Good Afternoon,
After powerful testimony from Mental Health America of Arizona, NAMI Southern Arizona and a few other mental health advocates and family members, our state Medicaid office (AHCCCS) approved fourteen oral antipsychotics along with three long lasting antipsychotic injectables to the statewide drug list without requiring prior authorization effective October 1st. The drugs added were: Risperidone, Quetiapine, Risperidone, Risperidone ODT, Ziprasidone, Saphris, Olanzapine, Latuda, Clozapine, Clozapine ODT, Abilify, Risperdal, Aristada, Abilify Maintena, Invega Sustenna and Invega Trinza.
Special thanks to the AHCCCS Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee who allowed us to testify and chose to put the needs of our community first! The decision giving open access to these medications without a requirement for step therapy or "fail first" policies will allow and empower our physicians to get their patients the appropriate help at the right time. It will improve the quality of life of many individuals and their family members, lead to a greater quality of life for those we serve and save our overall system money.
This is a wonderful victory for Arizona!
Sincerely,
Kristina Sabetta, LMSW
Mental Health America of Arizona
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