Update to global guidelines for asthma treatment
The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) updated its 2019 Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention report with the recommendation that adults and adolescents with asthma should not be treated with short-acting beta-agonist (SABAs) alone. GINA recommends that all adults and adolescents with asthma should receive either symptom-driven (in mild asthma) or daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing treatment to reduce the risk of serious exacerbations and asthma-related death.
Since then, two additional studies of as-needed ICS-formoterol have been published, providing further support for the GINA recommendation on treatment of mild asthma. For this reason, effective October 1, 2020, Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) has added budesonide-formoterol inhaler (generic Symbicort) to the Medi-Cal formulary. Fluticasone-salmeterol inhaler (Wixela Inhub, generic Advair Diskus, generic Airduo Respiclick) will continue to remain on the formulary.
Key takeaways
SCFHP covers the following ICS-formoterol:
- Medi-Cal: Budesonide-formoterol inhaler (generic Symbicort). Please refer to the Medi-Cal formulary print for the complete list of covered drugs.
- Cal MediConnect: Brand Symbicort. Please refer to the Cal MediConnect formulary print for the complete list of covered drugs.