April Update to North Carolina Medicaid and NC Health Choice Preferred Drug List Changes

Effective April 1, 2018, North Carolina Medicaid will make the following changes to the Medicaid and NC Health Choice Preferred Drug List (PDL):
 

Analgesics
Opioids
Long-Acting:
• Kadian moved to preferred
• Morphine sulfate ER (generic for Kadian) remains non-preferred

Anticonvulsants
Second Generation:
• Sabril Powder Pack moved to preferred
• Vigabatrin (generic for Sabril) powder pack moved to non-preferred

Anti-infectives
Systemic Antivirals
Herpes Treatment
• Zovirax Ointment moved to preferred
Hepatitis B
• Epivir HBV remains preferred
• Lamivudine HBV (generic for Epivir) moved to non-preferred
Antibiotics
Quinolones
• Avelox moved to non-preferred
• Moxifloxacin (generic for Avelox) moved to preferred

Behavioral Health
Antidepressants
Other
• Desvenlafaxine ER (generic for Pristiq) moved to preferred
• Pristiq remains non-preferred
Antipsychotics
Atypical oral
• Invega moved to non-preferred
• Paliperidone (generic for Invega) moved to preferred
• FazaClo moved to preferred
• Clozapine ODT (generic for FazaClo) moved to non-preferred

Cardiovascular
Platelet Inhibitors
• Effient moved to non-preferred
• Prasugrel (generic for Effient Tablet) moved to preferred

Hematologic
Anticoagulant
Injectable
• Lovenox syringe/vial moved to non-preferred
• Enoxaparin (generic for Lovenox) syringe/vial moved to preferred

Gastrointestinal
Ulcerative Colitis
• Lialda moved to preferred
• Mesalamine (generic for Lialda) moved to non-preferred

Ophthalmic
Allergic Conjunctivitis
• Pataday ophthalmic drops moved to preferred
• Olopatadine (generic for Pataday) ophthalmic drops moved to non-preferred

Respiratory
Intranasal Rhinitis Agents
• Astepro nasal spray moved to preferred
• Azelastine (generic for Astepro) nasal spray moved to non-preferred

Topical
Acne Agents
• Epiduo gel moved to preferred
• Benzaclin gel moved to non-preferred
• Clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide (generic for Benzaclin) gel moved to preferred
Psoriasis
• Dovonex cream moved to preferred
• Calcipotriene (generic for Dovonex) cream moved to non-preferred
Steroids
Very High Potency
• Clobex shampoo moved to preferred
• Clobetasol (generic for Clobex) shampoo moved to non-preferred
Low Potency
• Derma-Smoothe FS Scalp and Body Oil moved to non-preferred
• Fluocinolone scalp/body oil (generic for Derma-Smoothe FS scalp/body oil) moved to preferred
Miscellaneous Topicals
• Vivelle-Dot moved to non-preferred
• Estradiol patch (generic for Vivelle-Dot) moved to preferred

 

*This article is a republication from the March 2018 Medicaid Bulletin.