Blast Faxes

	Prior Authorization Guidelines Update - 3/3/2010
	NEW DME/INFUSION & ENTERAL PROVIDERS - 3/1/2010
	NEW DME/INFUSION & ENTERAL PROVIDERS - 2/17/2010
	NEW DME/INFUSION & ENTERAL PROVIDERS - 2/1/2010
	WINTER PROVIDER NETWORK OPERATIONS MAILING - 1/20/2010
	AHCCCS COVERAGE FOR ADULT HOSPICE ENDS - 1/13/2010
	NEW DME/INFUSION & ENTERAL PROVIDERS - 1/13/2010
	HEALTHCARE GROUP (HCG) REMINDER
	DDD Clinical Practice Guideline: Dysphagia and Assessing Risk of Aspiration and Choking - 1/6/2010
	Prior Authorization Request Fax numbers update. - 12/30/2009
	Prior Authorization Guidelines Update - 12/30/2009
	Fraud, Waste and Abuse Training - 12/23/2009
	Billing for H1N1 Vaccine Administration - 11/18/2009
	Care1st/ONECare 2009 Holiday Hours Notice - 11/18/2009
	Care1st Provider Manual Updates - 11/10/2009
	DENTURE COVERAGE UPDATE - 11/04/2009
	RSV UPDATE - 11/04/2009
	HEALTHCARE GROUP (HCG) UPDATE - 11/04/2009
	AHCCCS POLICY UPDATES - 10/27/2009
	FORMULARY UPDATES - 10/20/2009
	Automated Prior Authorization Response follow-up 10/6/09
	Flu Vaccine Update 2009
	PCP behavioral health record reviews 9/10/09 – 9/30/09
	AHCCCS DENTAL FEE SCHEDULE UPDATE
	DDD Clinical Quality Bulletin "The Fatal Four" Part One-Aspiration
	Dental Program Updates (Effective August 1, 2009)
	SPRING 2009 PROVIDER NETWORK - OPERATIONS MAILING

Drug safety alerts from Care1st Health Plan Arizona

Care1st Health Plan Arizona would like to inform providers about recent safety concerns raised about several commonly used agents.

Rosiglitazone (Avandia, Avandamet):
FDA is notifying healthcare professionals about rare post-marketing reports of new onset and worsening of diabetic macular edema in patients receiving products that contain Rosiglitazone. In the majority of these cases, the patients also reported concurrent peripheral edema. In some cases, discontinuing or reducing the dose eliminated or improved the macular edema. Macular edema typically occurs in association with diabetic retinopathy. Whether the symptoms are the result of the drug or diabetes is unknown.

Rimantadine (Flumadine) and Amantadine (Symmetrel and other generics):
A recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Health Alert recommends against the use of Amantadine and Rimantadine for the treatment or prevention of influenza in the U.S. during the 2005-06 Influenza season. Recent evidence indicates a high proportion of currently circulating Influenza A viruses in the U.S. are resistant to these medications. The CDC strongly encourages vaccination against influenza for all those who meet the CDC guidelines.

Pimecrolimus (Elidel) and Tacrolimus (Protopic):
FDA has advised practitioners to carefully weigh the risks and benefits when considering using either Pimecrolimus or Tacrolimus. FDA has indicated that these agents should be used only when other medications have failed. These two products will carry a new “black box” warning regarding their long term use. Given the limited data regarding use of these products in children less than 2 years of age and that risks increase with continued exposure in adults and children, Care1st Health Plan Arizona will limit the use of these products to their FDA labeled indication only. In addition when authorized, Care1st Health Plan Arizona will limit the number of times these agents can be refilled to only 1 and will limit the amount to the smallest tube size for the condition being treated.

If you have any question please call the Pharmacy help desk at 602-778-1831.