April 30, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Opioids are a class of prescription medicines that are used to manage pain when other treatments and medicines cannot be taken or are not able to provide enough pain relief. Opioids have serious risks, including abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Examples of common opioids include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. On April […]
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Clinical Review Update: Concomitant Anticholinergic and Antipsychotic Use
September 12, 2019 / by Health Plan / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Learning Objectives: Understand the role of anticholinergic medications in the prevention and treatment of antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Describe factors that should be considered when deciding to initiate and/or continue the concomitant use of anticholinergic with antipsychotic medication therapy. Key Points: Anticholinergic medications, including benztropine and trihexyphenidyl, are often prescribed to prevent or treat antipsychotic-induced […]
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Clinical Review Update: Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose
August 21, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Learning Objectives: Describe morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) and how it is being used to indicate potential dose-related risk for prescription opioid overdose. Summarize best practices for prescribing opioids. Identify resources available that promote responsible opioid prescribing, including online and mobile applications for calculation of morphine milligram equivalency. Describe recent legislation in California related to […]
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Drug Safety Communication: Sleep Behavior Risks with Select Sleep Aids
July 17, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Eszopiclone, zaleplon, and zolpidem are sedative-hypnotic medications approved for the treatment of insomnia in adults who experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. On April 30, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced they are requiring safety label changes for eszopiclone, zaleplon, and zolpidem because of the risk of complex sleep behaviors, including sleepwalking, […]
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Formulary Update effective 8/19/2019
June 13, 2019 / by Health Plan / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: June 12, 2019 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Practitioners, Providers and Facilities From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Subject: Formulary Update effective 8/19/2019 Business: Medi-Cal Effective 8/19/2019, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee has approved the following changes: Additions to the Formulary: Semaglutide (Ozempic) Pen Injector: PA required. […]
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Drug Safety Communication: Risks with Sudden Discontinuation of Opioids
April 30, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Opioids are a class of prescription medicines that are used to manage pain when other treatments and medicines cannot be taken or are not able to provide enough pain relief. Opioids have serious risks, including abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Examples of common opioids include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. On April […]
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Clinical Review Update: Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose
March 22, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Learning Objectives: Describe morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) and how it is being used to indicate potential dose-related risk for prescription opioid overdose. Summarize best practices for prescribing opioids. Identify resources available that promote responsible opioid prescribing, including online and mobile applications for calculation of morphine milligram equivalency. Describe recent legislation in California related to […]
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Alert: New Naloxone Regulations Effective on January 1, 2019
February 25, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Assembly Bill 2760 (Wood, Chapter 324) was signed into law in 2018 and became effective on January 1, 2019. California prescribers are now required to offer a prescription to a patient for either naloxone or another drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the complete or partial reversal of opioid-induced respiratory […]
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HPSJ MCL Provider Alert-Formulary Update December 2018
February 19, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
Date: December 17, 2018 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Physicians, Providers, and Pharmacies From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Subject: Formulary Update Business: Medi-Cal Effective 2/25/2019, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee has approved the following changes: Additions to the Formulary: Baloxavir (Xofluza) 20 mg, 40mg tablets: PA required. […]
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Reminder – Physician Certification Statement (PCS) Form – Update
October 31, 2018 / by Health Plan / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: October 30, 2018 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Practitioners and Providers From: HPSJ [Medical Management Department] Subject: Reminder – Physician Certification Statement (PCS) Form Business: Medi-Cal Update As we continue to seek ways to streamline processes, Health Plan of San Joaquin has simplified prior authorization requirements for transportation for your busy office. […]
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New Forms Update: 2018-2019 Palivizumab (Synagis)
October 25, 2018 / by Health Plan / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: October 25, 2018 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Providers and Practitioners From: HPSJ [Medical Management Department] Subject: New Forms Update: 2018-2019 Palivizumab (Synagis) Business: Medi-Cal The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is known as one of the most common illnesses among infants and children. […]
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