Change in Preferred Drug List Status for Otic, Antibiotics Drug Class

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.