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August 01, 2024

Texas Medicaid: State-required prior authorization updates for medications

Effective Sept. 1, 2024, we’re making the following changes for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas CHIP, STAR, STAR Kids and STAR+PLUS plans:

  • Adding new prior authorization requirements for appetite suppressant agents and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators
  • Updating our clinical criteria for VMAT-2 Inhibitors

These changes are based on the updated Health and Human Services Commission: Texas Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL) and Prior Authorization (PA) Criteria in the Texas Preferred Drug List report. Please use this information to determine if you must submit a prior authorization request or make note of the clinical criteria before prescribing these medications.

Medications Clinical criteria guidelines Clinical criteria updates
ADIPEX-P™ (phentermine)
37.5 mg tablet
Appetite Suppressant Agents New prior authorization requirement
Lomaira™ (phentermine hydrochloride USP)
8 mg tablet
New prior authorization requirement
Phendimetrazine
35 mg tablet
New prior authorization requirement
Phentermine
15 mg or 30 mg capsule
15 mg or 30 mg capsule SA
37.5 mg capsule
37.5 mg tablet
New prior authorization requirement
VELSIPITY™ (etrasimod)
2 mg tablet
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) Receptor Modulators New prior authorization requirement
Ingrezza (valbenazine)
40 mg, 60 mg or 80 mg capsules
40 mg, 60 mg or 80 mg sprinkle capInitiation pack
Initiation pack
Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) Inhibitors
  • Removed check for dopamine blocking agents 
  • Added a check for strong CYP2D6 inhibitors for Ingrezza 

Questions? We're here to help

Connect with us through chat 24/7 in the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal. For additional contact information, visit our Contact us page.

PCA-1-24-02059-Clinical-NN_07152024

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