MedicaidPrior AuthMedium impact
Pharmacy Program Updates September 2025
Alaska Medicaid·AK · Pharmacy, Pain Management·Pharmacy
Effective date
Nov 1, 2025
We identified it
Jun 21, 2026
Summary
Alaska Medicaid is updating their Preferred Drug List (PDL) effective November 1, 2025, and adding 27 new medications to the Interim Prior Authorization List that will require prior authorization and/or step therapy. The policy also reinforces existing requirements for opioid prescriptions including ICD-10 codes and prior authorization for prescriptions exceeding 150 MME.
Action Required
By November 1, 2025: Billing team must update prior authorization requirements for 27 newly added medications including Andembry, Ekterly, Combogesic, Vanrafia, Arbli, Vygart Hytrulo, Bisoprolol 2.5mg, and others listed in the policy. Verify current PDL status at https://health.alaska.gov/en/education/prior-authorization-medication/ and ensure providers obtain prior authorization before prescribing these medications. Continue requiring ICD-10 codes for all C-II opioid prescriptions and prior authorization for opioids exceeding 150 MME. Claims for these medications without proper prior authorization will be denied.