A message from Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, MD, MPH, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer of NC Department of Health and Human Services:
Dear Colleagues:
NC Medicaid will now cover imported benzathine benzylpenicillin (Extencilline) for use in outpatient medical drug claims. This new coverage is being added to address the ongoing national shortages of Bicillin® L-A (penicillin G benzathine injectable suspension).
While we have not heard of major shortages in North Carolina, we wanted to ensure that providers had access to every tool that may be available.
The statement on the policy change is available at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2024/03/04/ncdhhs-releases-statement-state-health-director-dr-elizabeth-cuervo-tilson-increasing-access
Provider guidance on extencilline is available at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=5a026d0c-6f91-4ee3-b193-b2186a37e7ca
More detailed information on Medicaid billing is available at NC Medicaid to Cover Imported Benzathine Benzylpenicillin (Extencilline): Billing Guidelines | NC Medicaid (ncdhhs.gov)
