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Article Summary: Medicaid Pharmacy Program to ensure these drugs are prescribed with caution
Arthritis Bextra Drug
In light of recent news reports that the pain-relieving drugs Celebrex and Bextra might increase risk for heart attacks and strokes, the Department of Health and Hospitals is placing safeguards in the Medicaid Pharmacy Program to ensure these drugs are prescribed with caution.
DHH Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise will issue a letter to prescribing practitioners and pharmacists within the DHH Medicaid program March 1 informing them of the new policy regarding these drugs, which are part of a class of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs known as Cox-2 inhibitors.
‘New England Journal of Medicine’ report showed our Medicaid recipients are prescribed these newer and more costly drugs at a higher rate than 46 other states,” said Medicaid Medical Director Dr. Roxane Townsend, who also provides consultation to the Drug Utilization Review Board. “This is often because of aggressive marketing for these drugs, not because of genuine medical needs for our patients. In many cases, an older and perhaps safer pain reliever would be just as effective and would not pose such a serious risk.”
Under the new prescribing policy, Medicaid patients could not have prescriptions for these drugs filled without the prescribing practitioner documenting medical justification for using Celebrex or Bextra instead of another pain reliever. Since Cox-2 inhibitors are meant to treat pain without causing damage to the stomach lining, patients with a history of stomach problems, or elderly patients at-risk for stomach problems, are the types of patients appropriately prescribed these medications. For those without such a history, a different medication would be prescribed in place of Celebrex or Bextra. If you or anyone you know has taken BEXTRA and has experienced the above symptoms or side effects, contact our BEXTRA lawyer and receive a free case evaluation.
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