Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is sending three separate letters to physicians about changes in the administrative process related to selected hypnotic agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and certain triptan products. Effective April 1, 2010, these drugs will be considered restricted access drugs that will require a physician to provide a written certification to BCBSNC prior to the drug being covered by a BCBSNC member’s prescription drug benefits.
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SSRI have been in use in pediatrics for over 20 plus years. Fluoxetine (Prozac) has been approved for depression down to age 6 years for 20 years and Sertraline ( Zoloft ) for OCD down to age 4 years. The FDA disaster in 2004 adding the BLACK BOX warning that SSRI’s increased suicidal ideations in 9 yo to 26yo populations decreased appropriate treatment of depression but also decreased RX for anxiety and OCD.
BCBSNC making SSRI’s restrictive access drugs just further threatens the lives of children and adults especially with depression since 13 out of 100 will now have suicidal ideations/attempts rather than 4 out of 100 on SSRI’s! Our healthcare system needs serious reform since insurance companies are obstacles in helping patients with disease receiving urgent medications and evidence based treatments.