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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Formulary Update Effective February 24, 2020
December 12, 2019 / by Health Plan / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: December 12, 2019 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Physicians, Providers, and Pharmacies From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Subject: Formulary Update Effective February 24, 2020 Business: Medi-Cal Effective 02/24/2020, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee has approved the following changes: Additions to the Formulary: Tranexamic Acid (Lysteda) 650 mg […]
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Alert: New Global Guidelines for the Treatment of Asthma
November 13, 2019 / by Health Plan / Pharmacy Announcements
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) established the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 1993 in order to increase awareness about asthma among health professionals, public health authorities, and the community, and to improve asthma prevention and management through a coordinated worldwide effort. The GINA Scientific Committee […]
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2019 Immunization Updates: Flu, HepA, HPV, Measles, CA School Requirements
September 27, 2019 / by Health Plan / 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 2019 in the United States can be accessed on the Centers for Disease Control […]
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Formulary Update – September 18, 2019
September 18, 2019 / by Health Plan / Alerts, Pharmacy Announcements
Date: September 18, 2019 To: Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Physicians, Providers, and Pharmacies From: Health Plan of San Joaquin Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Subject: Formulary Update – September 18, 2019 Business: Medi-Cal Managed Care Effective 12/02/2019, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee has approved the following changes: Additions to the Formulary: Heparin sodium porcine/PF […]
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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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