For commercial members enrolled in an AmeriHealth prescription drug program,
prior authorization and quantity limit requirements will be applied to certain
drugs. The purpose of prior authorization is to ensure that drugs are medically
necessary and are being used appropriately. Quantity limits are designed to
allow a sufficient supply of medication based upon the maximum daily dose and
length of therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a
particular drug. The most recent updates are reflected below.
Drugs requiring prior authorization
The prior authorization requirement for the following non-formulary drugs
was effective at the time the drugs became available in the marketplace:
Brand drug
Generic drug
Formulary Chapter
Effective date
Alprolix
TM
Not available
15. Diagnostics & Miscellaneous Agents
April 28, 2014
Anoro
TM Ellipta
TM
Not available
12. Allergy, Cough & Cold, Lung Meds
March 3, 2014
Grastek
®
Not available
12. Allergy, Cough & Cold, Lung Meds
April 28, 2014
Hetlioz
TM
Not available
3. Pain, Nervous System, & Psych
March 17, 2014
Myalept
TM
Not available
7. Diabetes, Thyroid, Steroids, & Other Miscellaneous Hormones
April 28, 2014
Oralair
®
Not available
12. Allergy, Cough & Cold, Lung Meds
April 14, 2014
Orenitram
TM
Not available
4. Heart, Blood Pressure, & Cholesterol
March 31, 2014
Otezla
TM
Not available
9. Bone, Joint, & Muscle
March 31, 2014
Ragwitek
TM
Not available
12. Allergy, Cough & Cold, Lung Meds
April 28, 2014
Tretten
®
Not available
15. Diagnostics & Miscellaneous Agents
March 17, 2014
Effective October 1, 2014, the following non-formulary drugs have been added
to the list of drugs requiring prior authorization:
Brand drug
Generic drug
Formulary Chapter
Absorica
TM
Not available
5. Skin Medications
Factive
®
Not available
1. Antibiotics & Other Drugs Used for Infection
First
® Lansoprazole
Not available
8. Stomach, Ulcer, & Bowel Meds
First
® Omeprazole
Not available
8. Stomach, Ulcer, & Bowel Meds
Khedezla
®
desvenlafaxine er
3. Pain, Nervous System, & Psych
Nexium
®
Not availble
8. Stomach, Ulcer, & Bowel Meds
Prilosec
®
omeprazole
8. Stomach, Ulcer, & Bowel Meds
Qualaquin
®
quinine sulfate*
1. Antibiotics & Other Drugs Used for Infection
Vimovo
®
Not available
8. Stomach, Ulcer, & Bowel Meds
Zavesca
®
Not available
15. Diagnostics & Miscellaneous Agents
*Generic drug require prior authorization.
Drugs with quantity limits
Quantity limits will be added for the following drugs:
Brand drug
Generic drug
Quantity limit
Effective date
Actonel
® 150 mg
risedronate
1 tab per 28 days
October 1, 2014
Actonel
® 35 mg
Not available
4 tabs per 28 days
October 1, 2014
Amerge
® 1 mg
naratriptan
9 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Atelvia
®
Not available
4 tabs per 28 days
October 1, 2014
Avinza
®
morphine sulfate er
30 tabs per 30 days
February 24, 2014
Binosto
®
Not available
4 tabs per 28 days
October 1, 2014
Boniva
®
ibandronate
1 tab per 30 days
October 1, 2014
First
® Lansoprazole
Not available
600 ml per 30 days
October 1, 2014
First
® Omeprazole
Not available
600 ml per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Not available
alendronate solution
300 ml per 28 days
October 1, 2014
Fosamax
®, Fosamax
® Plus D
alendronate
4 tabs per 28 days
October 1, 2014
Hetlioz
TM
Not available
30 caps per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Imitrex
® 25 mg, 50 mg tabs
sumatriptan
18 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Imitrex
® 5 mg nasal spray
sumatriptan
36 units per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Lunesta
® 1 mg
eszopiclone 1 mg
60 tabs per 30 days
April 21, 2014
Lunesta
® 2 mg, 3 mg
eszopiclone 2 mg, 3 mg
30 tabs per 30 days
April 21, 2014
Maxalt
® (MLT) 5 mg
rizatriptan
12 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Noxafil
®
Not available
93 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Ortho Evra
®
Xulane
3 patches per 28 days
April 28, 2014
Relpax
® 20 mg
Not available
12 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Xartemis
TM XR
Not available
120 tabs per 30 days
March 24, 2014
Zenzedi
TM 10 mg
dextroamphetamine
90 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Zenzedi
TM 15, 20 mg
Not available
90 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Zenzedi
TM 30 mg
Not available
60 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Zomig
® (ODT) 2.5 mg
zolmitriptan
9 tabs per 30 days
October 1, 2014
Quantity limits currently exist for brand drugs and will apply to generics
at the dates indicated above.
Drugs no longer requiring prior authorization
Effective August 1, 2014, prior authorization was removed for the following
drugs:
Brand drug
Generic drug
Formulary Chapter
Eliquis
®
Not available
4. Heart, Blood Pressure, & Cholesterol
Pradaxa
®
Not available
4. Heart, Blood Pressure, & Cholesterol
Tracleer
®
Not available
4. Heart, Blood Pressure, & Cholesterol
Victoza
®
Not available
7. Diabetes, Thyroid, Steroids, & Other Miscellaneous Hormones
Xarelto
®
Not available
4. Heart, Blood Pressure, & Cholesterol
Zortress
®
Not available
2. Cancer & Organ Transplant Drugs
For additional information on pharmacy policies and programs, please visit
our Pharmacy Information web page.