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New Website! ¡Nuevo sitio web!

ALERT: We have made the Texas Children’s Health Plan website even easier to use! Click here to learn more.

ALERTA: ¡Ahora el sitio web de Texas Children’s Health Plan es aún más sencillo de usar! Haz clic aquí para más información.

Enfamil shortage updates Escasez de Enfamil Reguline

ALERT: Shortage of Enfamil products until October 31, 2024. Learn more.

ALERTA: Escasez de productos de Enfamil hasta el 31 de octubre de 2024. Más información.

Change Healthcare Incident Change Healthcare incidente

Concerta® to return to non-preferred status

Attention: All Providers Effective Date: October 16, 2020 Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.Call to action: The Texas Vendor Drug Program (VDP) updated the Texas Medicaid formulary for STAR and STAR Kids members. The branded formulations of Concerta (methylphenidate ER) will be moved back to the non-preferred drug list. VDP temporarily removed the non-preferred status for brand Concerta products in the Stimulants drug class on April 23 in response to reported drug shortages. VDP will reverse this change in status because of sufficient availability in the market. VDP made this determination after verifying the current availability of the preferred Methylphenidate ER tablet products, as well as the non-preferred brand Concerta products through multiple sources such as ASHP, FDA, manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies in various regions around Texas. VDP will restore the non-preferred status on the following:
NDCDrug Name
50458058501CONCERTA ER 18 MG TABLET
50458058801CONCERTA ER 27 MG TABLET
50458058601CONCERTA ER 36 MG TABLET
50458058701CONCERTA ER 54 MG TABLET
How this impacts providers: TCHP encourages switching current members from brand Concerta to generic equivalent methylphenidate ER when clinically appropriate.
Drug ClassMedicationCurrent StatusStatus effective Oct 16, 2020Medication on Preferred Drug List (PDL)
StimulantsConcerta 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, 54 mgPreferred (PDL)Non-Preferred (NPD)methylphenidate ER 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, 54 mg
Next steps for providers: Providers should continue to follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines when prescribing, while following new formulary guidelines for impacted members.  Providers are encouraged to consider the available generic agents in the stimulant drug class when prescribing. The Texas Medicaid formulary preferred drug list can be found on the TX Vendor Drug Program website: (https://www.txvendordrug.com/formulary/prior-authorization/preferred-drugs).If you have any questions, please email Provider Network Management at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.For access to all provider alerts,log into: www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.