January: New Part D Star Measures for 2026
February: Palliative Care Program Updates
February: HCBS Final Rule Reminder
February: Developmentally Appropriate Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis
February: CLIA Certification Requirements for Claims Processing
March: Cancer Guidance Notice (Delay)
May: CoverMyMeds
May: Beers Criteria Formulary Updated
May: FDA Drug Safety Communications: Vitamin B6 Deficiency and Associated Seizures for Drug Products Containing Carbidopa/Levodopa
July: FDA Drug Safety Communications - Serious Livery Injury with Tavneos
July: D-SNP One-Time QUEST Plan Reassignment
July: Facilities Authorization Requirement
August: Timeliness of Prenatal Care (TOPC)
August: Timeliness of Postpartum Care (PPC)
September: Transitioning Medical Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Prior Authorizations from Optum Health to AlohaCare on September 15, 2026
September: Preferred Biologic PA Update
September: Biologic Agents Formulary Updates for QUEST (Medicaid)
October: CCS Program Transition-of-Care and System Updates
June 2026
December: Memo QI-2523
October: Prior Authorization Transition 2025
September: New Indications for Descovy & Tybost
September: New FDA Warning for Stimulants
February: California Drug Rehab Recruiters in Hawaii
April: FDA Drug Safety Communication
May: Zelis Clinical DRG Review
May: AlohaCare Provider Incentive Programs
May: Clinical and Reimbursement Policy Updates
May: Medicaid ID Registration (HOKU) Reminder
May: Out-of-State Air Ambulance Service
June: CGM Billing Changes
June: "Incident To" Policy
June: Procedure Site of Care Policy
July: FDA Drug Safety Communication, Cetirizine and Levocetirizine
August: FDA Heat Risk Warning
Quarter 1 2025
Quarter 2 2025
Quarter 3 2025
April: AlohaCare's Guideline Transparency
April: FDA Drug Safety Communication - Boxed warning on prescription stimulants for serious risk of misuse, abuse, & addiction
April: FDA Drug Safety Communication - Warning on levetiracetam and clobazam combo for increased risk of rare, but serious hypersensitivity reactions
April: FDA Drug Safety Communication - Preliminary evaluation of GLP-1 RA's does not suggest causal link to reports of suicidal thoughts/actions
April: FDA Drug Safety Communication - Boxed warning on Prolia (denosumab) for increased risk of severe hypocalcemia in advanced CKD
May: Medicare Drug Prior Authorizations (PA) - Ease of Getting Needed Prescription Drugs
July: Blood Pressure Monitors
December: New Pharmacy Benefits Manager in 2025
Quarter 1 2024
Quarter 2 2024
Quarter 3 2024
Quarter 4 2024
April: Proton Pump Inhibitors
June: Medication Adherence
June: Supplemental Diagnosis Submission
July: Palliative Care Program
July: Additional Guidance For Safe Use Of Opioids
August: Weight Management Drugs Advisory
August: Emergency Management Notification
August: Non-Emergency Air Ambulance Prior Authorization Notification
September: Emergency Management Notification
October: New Plan, AlohaCare Advantage Plus, Combines Medicaid (QUEST (Medicaid)) and Medicare Coverage into One Plan
October: Medicare Drug Prior Authorization (PA) - Ease of Getting Needed Prescription Drugs
October: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Program Training Sessions
October: Emergency Management Notification
December: Cologuard
Quarter 1 2023
Quarter 2 2023
Quarter 3 2023
Quarter 4 2023
January: Inappropriate Use of Ivermectin for COVID-19
January: Electronic Prior Authorizations (ePA)
January: FDA requires warning about increased risk of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and death for JAK inhibitors that treat certain chronic inflammatory conditions
February: Tips for Prior Authorizations (PA) Submission for Pharmacy Benefits
February: New AlohaCare E-Consult (Curbside Consult) Program for QUEST (Medicaid) for PCPS (MD, PA, APRN) and Specialists (MD, DO)
March: Warning About Potential Abuse of Ioperamide (Imodium)
March: FDA investigating possible increased risk of death with lymphoma medicine Ukoniq (umbralisib)
March: Buprenorphine sublingual usage associated with dental problems
June: AlohaCare APR DRG Billing Guide
July: FDA warns about possible increased risk of death and serious side effects with cancer drug Copiktra (duvelisib)
July: FDA approval of lymphoma medicine Ukoniq (umbralisib) is withdrawn due to safety concerns
October: Transmucosal Immediate Release Fentanyl (TIRF)
November: IngenioRx will become CarelonRx on January 1, 2023
December: FDA investigating risk of severe hypocalcemia in patients on dialysis receiving osteoporosis medicine Prolia (denosumab)
December: 2023 Medicare Benefit Update
Quarter 4 2022
Quarter 3 2022
Quarter 2 2022
Quarter 1 2022
January: Acupuncture
January: Hawaii's Vaccination Plan
January: Medicaid Eligibility For Freely Associated States Under The Compact Of Free Association (COFA) Citizens
February: COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Flexibilities Offered by Med-QUEST
February: Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) Scheduling Transitioning To IntelliRide - Updated: 3/24/21
April: Community Care Foster Family Home (CCFFH) and Expanded Adult Residential Care Home (EARCH) - IMPORTANT CLAIMS SUBMISSION UPDATES
April: FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later
April: Studies show increased risk of heart rhythm problems with seizure and mental health medicine (Lamictal) in patients with heart disease
April: FDA warns about serious problems with high doses of the allergy medicine Benadryl
May: New Pharmacy Benefits Manager - IngenioRx (beginning 7/1/2021)
June: REMINDER: New Pharmacy Benefits Manager - IngenioRx (beginning 7/1/2021)
July: REMINDER: Provider Relief Fund Post-payment Reporting Requirements
July: FDA restricts use of Ocaliva in PBC patients with advanced cirrhosis
July: FDA warns that abuse and misuse of the nasal decongestant propylhexedrine causes serious harm
July: FDA requests removal of strongest warning against cholesterol-lowering statins during pregnancy
September: Prior Authorization Changes for Specific Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
October: Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain
October: Safe Opioid Prescribing Practices
December: Important New PBM Implementation - Update
Quarter 4 2021
Quarter 3 2021
Quarter 2 2021
Quarter 1 2021
March: 100 Days Supply Coverage for Medicare Maintenance Drugs
May: Diabetic Testing Supplies
June: New Implementation - IngenioRx and CVS Caremark
September: Important Information for Claims Processing
September: Coordination of Benefits Change
November: Medicare 2022 Formulary Impacts & Walgreens Added to QUEST Pharmacy Network
December: CVS Caremark to process claims for AlohaCare Advantage Plus (HMO SNP)