If we remove drugs from our formulary, or add prior authorization, quantity limits and/or step therapy restrictions on a drug or move a drug to a higher cost-sharing tier, we must notify affected members of the change at least 60 days before the change becomes effective, or at the time the member requests a refill of the drug, at which time the member will receive a 60-day supply of the drug. If the Food and Drug Administration deems a drug on our formulary to be unsafe or the drug’s manufacturer removes the drug from the market, we will immediately remove the drug from our formulary and provide notice to members who take the drug.

 

On April 19, 2012, Novartis announced that they will cease marketing Valturna^® (aliskiren and valsartan, USP) tablets in the US.  This announcement was made after consultations with the FDA due to preliminary results of the halted ALTITUDE study.    

Valturna^® has been used for controlling high blood pressure and to ensure an orderly transition of patients to alternate therapies. Novartis will make Valturna available until July 20, 2012 to allow physicians to transition patients to another medication. Patients taking Valturna should not stop their high blood pressure treatment without consulting their prescribing healthcare provider. 

If you are a patient on Valturna^®, we encourage you to discuss this information with your prescribing healthcare provider at your next (non-urgent) visit, prior to July 20, 2012, or to make an appointment before this time, to determine the appropriate alternate medication for you.

 

 

Effective February 24, 2012

This recall was initiated because of a packaging error, where select blisters were rotated 180 degrees within the card, reversing the weekly tablet orientation and making the lot number and expiry date visible only on the outer pouch.  Any blister for which the lot number and expiry date is not visible is subject to recall.

 

Effective January 31, 2012

On January 31, 2012, Pfizer Inc. initiated a voluntary recall of 14 lots of Lo/Ovral®-28 (norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) Tablets, NDC 24090-801-84, and 14 Lots of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (generic) because some blister packs may contain an inexact count of inert or active ingredient tablets and the tablets may be out of sequence. Click here for more information.