Mass. Medicaid puts Elidel, Protopic on prior authorization
Executive Summary
Massachusetts Medicaid will require prior authorization for Novartis' Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Astellas' Protopic (tacrolimus) effective Aug. 1. Decision was prompted by FDA's March public health advisory on the topical eczema agents, including a request that labeling add a "black box" warning to reflect potential cancer risk (1"The Pink Sheet" March 14, 2005, p. 18). MassHealth says it wanted to ensure that the agents are used as second-line therapy and not in children under two...