Date: December 28, 2023
Attention: All Providers
Effective Date: December 18, 2023
Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) would like to inform providers that effective December 18, 2023, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) removed non-preferred status from generic ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic solution on the preferred drug list. This is in response to the discontinuation of the product by the manufacturer.
The preferred status of the brand name Ciprodex will not change to allow any remaining stock to be used.
How this impacts providers: The change will allow providers to prescribe the generic ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone products without requiring PDL prior authorization at this time and continue accessing necessary medication for their patients.
Please see below for the list of impacted drugs (of note, the approval is NDC-specific):
| Preferred Medication | Preferred Medication NDC | Type of Change | Effective Date |
| CIPROFLOXACIN-DEXAMETHASONE OTIC SUSP | 00781618667 | Generic now preferred | December 18, 2023 |
| CIPROFLOXACIN-DEXAMETHASONE OTIC SUSP | 16714062801 | Generic now preferred | December 18, 2023 |
| CIPROFLOXACIN-DEXAMETHASONE OTIC SUSP | 43598032675 | Generic now preferred | December 18, 2023 |
| CIPRODEX | Brand remains preferred |
Next step for providers: Prescribers are encouraged to proactively obtain a prescription for the preferred alternatives to avoid disruption in patient’s therapy. Prescribers should share this communication with their staff.
If you have any questions, please email TCHP Pharmacy at: tchppharmacy@texaschildrens.org.
For access to all provider alerts,log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.