Apple Health: New duration of use and dose limits for Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)



 

 


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Apple Health (Medicaid): Provider Alert

This alert is an update to a provider alert issued on April 17, 2017. This update removes the requirement that the client try risedronate and be unsuccessful prior to requesting authorization for a proton pump inhibitor due to concurrent bisphosphonate use.

 

New duration of use and dose limits for Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) 

Beginning June 1, 2017, Washington Apple Health (Medicaid), administered by the Health Care Authority (agency) will reduce the current 90-day limit for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to only one tablet/capsule per day for 60 days during any 12-month period. The agency may authorize more than 60 days per 12-month period or more than one tablet/capsule per day for patients taking certain medications or who have one of the chronic medical conditions listed below.

 

Chronic medical conditions include:

  • Pathological gastric acid hypersecretion, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Esophageal stenosis/stricture or Schatzki ring
  • Recent erosive/ulcerative esophagitis or duodenal/gastric ulcer

Concurrent medications include:

  • Chronic NSAID use (including aspirin greater than or equal to 325 mg per day)
  • Chronic low-dose aspirin with history of a GI bleed
  • Chronic high-dose systemic steroid
  • Antiplatelet or anticoagulant
  • Bisphosphonate where there are pre-existing esophageal disorders
  • Pancreatic enzyme
  • Cancer therapies 

Why are we adopting these interventions?

PPIs are commonly prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn, and symptoms are generally well controlled after 60 days of PPI therapy, even when cases are more severe. PPIs are known to cause rebound acid reflux when patients abruptly discontinue using the PPI. This rebound reflux is often mistaken for continued need of the PPI and has led to overutilization. Overutilization is defined as using a PPI for longer than the FDA-recommended time period of four to eight weeks. To avoid rebound acid reflux, the PPI should be gradually discontinued and supplemented with a histamine-2 receptor blocker (H2RA) (e.g. ranitidine 400 mg per day, over the course of a month). Thereafter, continuous or as-needed treatment with an H2RA should be sufficient for controlling symptoms caused by GERD.

 

Prescribers should:

  • Reevaluate therapy for patients diagnosed with GERD.
  • Gradually reduce the dose of the PPI over 30 days and discontinue, using an H2RA (e.g. ranitidine 400 mg daily) to reduce the occurrence of rebound acid reflux. See attached sample taper plan.
  • Discuss with their patients the guidelines on the management and treatment of GERD.
  • Consider endoscopy for patients unable to control symptoms caused by GERD after 8 weeks of PPI treatment followed by a 30-day cross-taper to an H2RA. 

The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines recommend the following for the treatment of GERD:

  • Weight loss
  • Head of bed elevation
  • Avoidance of meals 2-3 hours before bedtime
  • PPI for 8 weeks

Long-term use or high doses of PPIs are associated with the following risks: 

  • Malabsorption of calcium leading to hypocalcemia could lead to bone fractures.
  • Malabsorption of magnesium leading to hypomagnesemia is potentially fatal. Magnesium levels should be monitored during PPI therapy. Symptoms include seizures, arrhythmias, hypotension, and tetany.
  • Increased risk of infection:
    • Clostridium difficile infections
    • Pneumonia due to aspiration of organisms not deactivated by gastric acid 

Patients who do not have a chronic condition or are not using a concurrent medication as listed above should consider discontinuing the use of a PPI.

 

For the complete Apple Health (Medicaid) PPI policy and sample taper plan, please visit the Apple Health (Medicaid) Drug Coverage Criteria web page.  

Sample Taper Plans for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) stepdown 

Table 1. Sample PPI taper schedule for QD dosing 

 

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Current

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

Week 1

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

Week 2

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

Week 3

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

Week 4

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

Week 5

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

 H2B = H2 blocker, e.g. ranitidine  

Table 2. Sample PPI taper schedule for BID dosing 

 

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

 

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

Current

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

Week 1

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

Week 2

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

Week 3

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

Week 4

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

PPI

PPI

PPI

H2B

Week 5

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

Week 6

H2B

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

Week 7

H2B

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

H2B

H2B

Week 8

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

H2B

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

Week 9

PPI

H2B

H2B

H2B

PPI

H2B

PPI

H2B

H2B

H2B

PPI

H2B

H2B

H2B

Week 10

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

H2B

 H2B = H2 blocker, e.g. ranitidine

 

About Washington State Health Care Authority

HCA oversees the state’s top two health care purchasers — Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) and the Public Employee Benefits Board Program. We work with partners to help ensure Washingtonians have access to better health and better care at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.hca.wa.gov.

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