December 30, 2021 / by HPSJ / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: December 29, 2021 To: All Pharmacies Provider Alert Type: Informational From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Subject: Medi-Cal Rx PBM Information Business: Medi-Cal Beginning January 1, 2022, Health Plan of San Joaquin pharmacy benefits will be transitioned to and administered by the new California State agency, Medi-Cal Rx. Medi Cal Rx is responsible for [...]
Read more
Improving the Quality of Care: Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection
February 6, 2023 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
Describe populations at high risk for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and for developing tuberculosis (TB) disease once infected. Explain the different testing options for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), as well as their advantages and limitations. Summarize the 2020 guidelines for the treatment of LTBI recommended by the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and [...]Read more
2022 Immunization Update: Mpox, HepB, Influenza, COVID-19, Pneumococcal, Zoster
February 6, 2023 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
Each year, the California Medi-Cal Drug Use Review (DUR) program issues an annual summary of updates on immunization guidelines, products, and/or research in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch. For reference, the recommended immunization schedules for 2022 in the United States can be accessed on the Centers for Disease Control [...]Read more
Risks to Patients Exposed to Xylazine in Illicit Drugs
February 2, 2023 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
On November 8, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a communication regarding increasing reports of serious side effects from individuals exposed to fentanyl, heroin, and other illicit drugs contaminated with xylazine. Xylazine is used in animals as a sedative and pain reliever. It is not safe for use in humans, and may [...]Read more
Removal of DATA-Waiver (X-Waiver) Requirement
January 30, 2023 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
On January 12, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed in a letter to registrants that Section 1262 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 eliminated the DATA-Waiver Program. Effective immediately, waiver applications will no longer be accepted. All prescriptions for buprenorphine will now only require a standard DEA registration number. The previously used DATA-Waiver (also [...]Read more
Medi-Cal Pharmacy (Rx) Update – Rejection Code 816
December 1, 2022 / by HPSJ / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: December 1, 2022 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Practitioners and Facilities From: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Type: Informational/Educational Subject: Medi-Cal Pharmacy (Rx) Update – REJECTION CODE 816 Business: Medi-Cal Outpatient pharmacy benefits were transitioned to Medi-Cal Rx on 1-1-2022. Due to the benefit transitioning, some medications are paid for by [...]Read more
Submitting Quality Data to the California Immunization Registry (CAIR2) – May 2022
May 26, 2022 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
The California Immunization Registry (CAIR2) is a secure web-based platform that allows providers and organizations to track patient immunization and tuberculosis records. The CAIR2 aims to improve vaccination rates, minimize missed immunization opportunities, and prevent administration of duplicate immunizations. Patient-specific and aggregate reports in the CAIR2 system allow for accurate assessment of vaccination coverage rates [...]Read more
Professional Organizations Push for Recall of Buprenorphine Dental Warning – February 2022
March 2, 2022 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
On January 24, 2022, a letter from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and ten other health professional associations called for the FDA to immediately and fully retract their Drug Safety Communication on dental problems associated with buprenorphine, which was based on 305 reported cases of dental problems since 2002. The authors note that nearly 2.4 [...]Read more
Improving the Quality of Care: Legislative Impact on the Use of Naloxone
January 3, 2022 / by HPSJ / Pharmacy Announcements
Date: January 3, 2022 To: All Pharmacies Provider Alert Type: Informational/Educational From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Subject: Improving the Quality of Care: Legislative Impact on the Use of Naloxone Business: Medi-Cal Download Attachment PDFExcelWordZipPowerpointImageMP3CloseBy DateBy NameBy TypeCloseShow all files Jan 3rd, 2022 Improving the Quality of Care-Legislative Impact on the Use of Naloxone Next [...]Read more
Medi-Cal Rx PBM Information
December 30, 2021 / by HPSJ / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: December 29, 2021 To: All Pharmacies Provider Alert Type: Informational From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Subject: Medi-Cal Rx PBM Information Business: Medi-Cal Beginning January 1, 2022, Health Plan of San Joaquin pharmacy benefits will be transitioned to and administered by the new California State agency, Medi-Cal Rx. Medi Cal Rx is responsible for [...]Read more
Irbesartan & Irbesartan/Hctz Recall – IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
October 21, 2021 / by HPSJ / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: October 21, 2021 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Pharmacies and Providers & Practices From: HPSJ Pharmacy Department Subject: Irbesartan & Irbesartan/Hctz Recall - IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED Business: Medi-Cal Managed Care We are sending this alert because you may have one or more patients who filled a prescription for Irbesartan Tablets or Irbesartan/Hydrochlorothiazide [...]Read more