December 2020
Possible Mail Order Delivery Delays
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is experiencing another slowdown in the processing of mail through the USPS system. This is due to both a holiday package surge and COVID-19 staffing issues. A similar issue was noted in April 2020 shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic initially began. For mail order prescriptions, please allow extra time to receive your order. Currently, the mail order pharmacy uses USPS for non-overnight deliveries only. For refrigerated and other overnight packages they use UPS and there are no delivery concerns at this time.
November 2020
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
Effective November 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
- Satralizumab (Enspryng) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Pralsetinib (Gavreto) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Nifurtimox (Lampit) – Tier 3, PA
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Dimethyl Fumerate (Generic for Tecfidera)
- Lapatinib (Generic for Tykerb)
- Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (Generic for Atripla)
- Fosfomycin (Generic for Monurol)
- Tolvaptan 15 mg (Generic for Samsca)
October 2020
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
Effective October 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
- Glycopyrrolate, Formoterol, Budesonide (Breztri Aerosphere) – Tier 3, ST, QL
- Decitabine and cedazuridine (Inqovi) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Azacitidine (Onureg)– Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Risdiplam (Evrysdi) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Sodium Oxybate (Xywav) – Tier 3, Specialty, PA, QL
- Octreotide Oral (Mycapssa) – Tier 3, PA, QL
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Insulin Glargine (Semglee)
- Tobramycin (generic for Bethkis)
- Efavirenz, Lamivudine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (generic for Symfi, Symfi Lo)
September 2020
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
Effective September 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
- Apomorphine sublingual (Kynmobi) – Tier 2, PA, QL
- Fostemsavir (Rukobia) – Tier 2, Specialty, QL
- Fenfluramine (Fintepla) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA
- Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel patch (Twirla) – Tier 3, QL
- Elagolix and estradiol and norethindrone kit (Oriahnn) – Tier 2, PA, QL
- Bempedoic Acid/Ezetimibe (Nexlizet) – Tier 3, PA, QL
- Dolutegravir (Tivicay PD) – Tier 2, Specialty, QL
- Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (Harvoni) and Sofosbuvir (Solvadi) Pellet Packs – Tier 3, Specialty, PA, QL
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Sodium Flouride 1.1% (Generic for Prevident 5000)
July 2020
Transition to Magellan Rx
As of July 1, 2020, the Prescription Drug Plan is administered by Magellan Rx. If you are enrolled in a U-M health plan and have not received a new drug plan ID card from Magellan Rx, call (888) 272-1346 to request a card. If you need to fill a prescription prior to receiving your new card, you may download a temporary drug plan ID card to show to your pharmacist.
The member portal is available at umich.magellanrx.com. For helpful information on using the portal, review the Magellan Rx member portal guide.
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
Effective July 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
- Ozanimod (Zeposia) – Tier 3, Specialty, PA, QL
- Capmatinib (Tabrecta) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Ripretinib (Qinlock) – Tier 2, LDD, PA, QL
- Selumetinib (Koselugo) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Selpercatinib (Retevmo) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Nimodipine (Nymalize) – Tier 2, PA, QL
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Methylphenidate (Aptensio XR)
June 2020
Formulary Updates
Effective June 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
- Lemborexant (Dayvigo) – Tier 3, ST, QL
- Osilodrostat (Isturisa) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Pemigatinib (Pemazyre) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Tucatinib (Tukysa) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa) – Tier 3, PA, QL
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Insulin Lispro Junior Kwikpen (Humalog Junior Kwikpen)
- Insulin Lispro Mix Protamine Mix Kwikpen (Humalog Mix 75-25 Kwikpen)
Look for New Drug Plan ID Cards
New prescription drug plan ID cards from Magellan Rx Management will mail to plan members in June. Magellan Rx will be the plan's new pharmacy benefit manager effective July 1, 2020. The transition will take place automatically. The Magellan Rx member website will be available July 1.
Three Medications Now Available Over-the-Counter
Effective June 1, 2020, three medications will no longer be covered by the plan due to recent over-the-counter (OTC) availability: diclofenac (Voltaren) 1% gel, olopatadine (Pataday) 1% drops, and olopatadine 2% drops. Brand and generic versions of these products will soon be available without the need for a prescription at most retail pharmacies.
For more information, please refer to the FDA announcement, FDA Approves Three Drugs for Nonprescription Use Through Rx-to-OTC Switch Process.
May 2020
Effective May 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
- Peanut Allergen Powder-dnfp (Palforzia) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) – Tier 3, Specialty, PA, QL
- Bempedoic Acid (Nexletol) – Tier 3, PA, QL
- Cenobamate (Xcopri) – Tier 3, ST, QL
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Teriparatide (Forteo)
- Everolimus (Zortress)
- Pyrimethamine (Daraprim)
- Ketorolac Tromethamine Nasal Spray (Sprix)
- Moxifloxacin Eye Drops (Moxeza)
April 2020
Advance Refill Override Extended through May 19
The emergency override announced in March that allows early refills for up to 90 days worth of supply during the coronavirus pandemic is extended through 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 19, 2020. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an extension to an existing Executive Order 2020-56, which increases the public's access to prescriptions. The limit for no prescription refills before 75% use (26 days for a 34-day supply or 68 days for a 90-day supply) has been lifted.
March 2020
Advance Refills Available
Effective March 16, 2020, the U-M Benefits Office implemented a refill override to ensure that Prescription Drug Plan members have access to their prescription maintenance medication effective through April 23, 2020. Plan members may get up to a 90-day supply of maintenance medication in advance of the usual refill schedule. Typically members must wait until 75 percent of the current fill has been used before requesting a refill. The limit for no prescription refills before 75% use (26 days for a 34-day supply or 68 days for a 90-day supply) has been lifted.
February 2020
Effective February 1, 2020, the following changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Plan’s formulary. These changes will be reflected in the plan’s next bi-monthly print formulary. Review the formulary.
New Drug Products Added to Formulary
- Testosterone Undecanoate (Jatenzo) – Tier 3, PA, QL
- Voxelotor (Oxbryta) – Tier 2, Specialty, PA, QL
- Zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) – Tier 3, Specialty, PA, QL
- Benralizumab (Fasenra) – Tier 3, Specialty, QL
New Generics Added to Formulary
- Insulin Aspart (Novolog, Novolog Flexpen)
- Eluryng (Nuvaring)
- Budesonide Formoterol (Symbicort)
- Everolimus (Afinitor)
- Mesalamine ER (Apriso)
- Deferasirox (Jadenu)
- Travoprost (Travatan Z)
- Sulconazole Nitrate 1% (Exelderm)