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[Virginia] Quarterly pharmacy formulary change notice — Cardinal Care Medicaid

Anthem BCBS·VA · Oncology, Cardiology, Endocrinology +6 more·Pharmacy
Effective date
May 1, 2026
We identified it
May 3, 2026
Days to comply

Summary

Anthem HealthKeepers Plus (Virginia Medicaid) is implementing quarterly pharmacy formulary changes effective May 1, 2026, affecting numerous medications across multiple therapeutic classes. Changes include new prior authorization requirements, quantity limits, and dosing edits on drugs including cancer therapies (Keytruda, Inlexzo, Koselugo), diuretics (Lasix Onyu, Ormalvi), endocrine agents, and specialty injectables. Billing teams must review affected medications, update prior authorization workflows, and transition patients to formulary alternatives or obtain PA before the effective date.

Action Required

Action needed
By April 30, 2026: (1) Billing team must audit current patient medications against the formulary change table to identify affected patients on Cardinal Care Medicaid. (2) Update billing system to enforce new prior authorization requirements for medications listed with 'ADD PA' designation (e.g., Javadin, all Keytruda QLEX formulations, Inlexzo, Koselugo, Enbumyst, Lasix Onyu, Palsonify, Harliku, Redemplo, Voyxact, Wayrilz, Armlupeg, Gammagard Liquid/Qivigy, Kirsty insulin, Bondlido, Kygevvi, Rhapsido, Eydenzelt, Jascayd, and others). (3) Configure quantity limits in the billing system for all medications with 'ADD QL' or 'UPDATE QL' designations to prevent claims processing errors. (4) Notify providers of changes and identify patients requiring PA before May 1, 2026. (5) For patients on removed PA medications (Faslodex, Famotidine Oral Suspension, Sylvant), update systems to remove PA requirements. (6) For patients on medications with removed QL (Dhivy), remove quantity limit edits. (7) Contact Anthem Pharmacy at 800-901-0020 to request prior authorizations for patients who cannot transition to formulary alternatives. Failure to obtain PA before the effective date will result in claim denials and potential service disruptions for Medicaid beneficiaries.