Prior Authorization (PA)
There are three reasons for the use of prior authorization: scope controls, utilization controls and product based controls. This section includes the list of medications requiring Prior Authorization (PA). PA forms can be found in the Pharmacy Forms section. Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) administers two types of PA programs:
Scope and Utilization-based Prior Authorization
Scope controls refer to constraints used to insure a drug is used for approved indications and is therapeutically appropriate. Utilization controls are used to limit the quantity of medication dispensed or to limit the duration of use.
The Drug Utilization and Review Board (DUR) recommends clinical criteria for medications that require a PA.
Product Based Prior Authorization (PBPA)
This program divides certain therapeutic categories of drugs into two or more levels called Tiers. Tier 1 medications are preferred as the first step for treating a member’s health condition. They are cost effective and are usually available without PA. Members that do not achieve a clinical success with Tier 1 medications may qualify to obtain a Tier 2 or Tier 3 medication. Most of these categories are set up so that if a member meets the step therapy criteria, their claim for the next highest tier will process without a PA. Alternately, a PA may be required so that OHCA will have documentation of the step therapy and/or other clinical information necessary to approve the use of a Tier 2 or higher medication. Providers who have members with clinical exceptions may request a PA to skip the step therapy process and receive the Tier 2 or Tier 3 drug immediately. Please see each therapeutic category for specific clinical criteria required to bypass the step therapy protocol.
Therapeutic Categories:
- Anti-Infectives - Cephaloporins, Ketoconazole Oral Tablets, Skin and Soft Tissue, Special Formulations
- Biologics - Botulinum toxins, Hematopoetic, Immunomodulating, Replacement Therapy, Respiratory, Skeletal
- Cardiovascular - Anticoagulants, Antihypertensives, Antiplatelet, Antihyperlipidemics, Clonidine Products, Hereditary Angioedema, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Revatio
- Central Nervous System/Behavioral Health - ADHD & Narcolepsy, Alzheimer's, Antidepressants, Anti-Migraine, Anxiolytic/Hypnotic, Atypical Antipsychotics, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Narcotic Analgesics, Parkinson's, Restless Leg Syndrome, Requip XL/Mirapex ER, Smoking Cessation, Substance Abuse Treatment
- Chelating/Binding Agents: Ferriprox, Jadenu
- Diabetes/Endocrine - Diabetic Medications, Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents, Growth Hormone, Makena®, Testosterone, Vitamin D Analogs
- Gastro-Intestinal - Amitiza, Anti-emetic, Anti-Ulcer, Bowel Prep, Pancreatic Enzymes
- Genetic Disorders - Cerdelga®, Cerezyme®, Elelyso®, Exondys 51™, Spinraza™, Vpriv®, Zavesca®
- Genitourinary System - Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Bladder Control Drugs
- Hemophilia - Adynovate, Alprolix, Coagadex, Corifact, Eloctate, Idelvion, Obizur, Tretten
- Hepatic Disorders - Daklinza, Harvoni, Incivek, Olysio, Sovaldi, Technivie, Victrelis, Viekira Pak, Zepatier
- Metabolic Disorders- Cholbam, Kanuma, Keveyis, Myalept, Procysbi, Ravicti, Strensiq
- Ocular/Otic - Ocular Allergy, Opthalmic Anti-Infective/Steroid, Ophthalmic Corticosteroid, Ophthalmic NSAIDs, Ophthalmic Glaucoma, Otic Anti-Infective
- Oncologic Therapies - Afinitor, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer
- Respiratory - Asthma & COPD Inhalation Medications, Antihistamines, Leukotriene Modifiers, Nasal Allergy Sprays, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Synagis, Tobi/Pulmozyme, Xolair
- Skeletal System - Amrix & Fexmid, Bisphosphonates, Forteo, Gout, NSAIDs, Skeletal Muscle Relaxants, Soma
- Special Formulations - Millipred®, Veripred 20®
- Topical - Antifungal, Elidel/Protopic, Pediculicides, Topical Antibiotic Medications, Topical Corticosteroids