Questions-and-Answers-Treatment-Information-for-Providers-and-Facilities Questions and Answers: COVID-19 Treatment Information for Providers and Facilities

Questions and Answers: COVID-19 Treatment Information for Providers and Facilities

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  • Most adults and some children with symptomatic COVID-19 are eligible for treatments. 

  • Antiviral treatment saves lives and prevents hospitalizations. 

  • Given the broad range of people who can benefit from treatment, providers should have a low threshold for prescribing COVID-19 therapeutics. ā€‹

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Introā€‹duction 

Frequently Asked Questions About Outpatient Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 

  1. Are available antivirals effective against new variants?ā€‹

  2. Does a patient need a positive COVID-19 test in order to be prescribed nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) or molnupiravir (Lagevrio)?

  3. What should providers consider when deciding whether to monitor patients for worsening symptoms or to prescribe?

  4. Can children be prescribed anti-SARS-CoV-2 outpatient treatments?

  5. Are anti-SARS-CoV-2 outpatient treatments safe for geriatric patients?

  6. ā€‹ā€‹How can providers check drug-drug interactions with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and other therapeutics?

  7. ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹Where can I find information on the contraindications for and side effects of available COVID-19 therapeutics? 

  8. Are renal and hepatic lab results required before a physician or advanced practice provider can prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid)?

  9. Do providers need to check patientsā€™ creatinine levels to prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid)? Is the eGFR releā€‹vant?ā€‹

  10. ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹What should a provider do when a patient has known or suspected kidney or liver disease?

  11. ā€‹Can pharmacists prescribe COVID-19 oral therapeutics?ā€‹

  12. Is it permissible to have a standing order for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) prescription and to have an RN conduct the assessment? 

  13. What does a clinician COVID-19 treatment workflow look like? 

  14. What are best practices for long-term care facilities?

Intā€‹rodā€‹uctionā€‹ 

Key points:
  • Most adults and some children with symptomatic COVID-19 are eligible for treatments. 
  • Antiviral treatment saves lives and prevents hospitalizations. 
  • Given the broad range of people who can benefit from treatment, providers should have a low threshold for prescribing COVID-19 therapeutics. 

For an overview of available outpatient treatments, please refer to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 Treatment Resources for Healthcare Providers page. ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹

ā€‹ā€‹COVID-19 treatments play an important role in preventing illness and helping people recover from COVID-19, with the goal of saving lives, reducing hospitalizations, and releasing pressure on stressed hospital systems. Treatments can be ordered for eligible patients based on exposure status, symptoms, and risk factors for severe disease progression. 

ā€‹CDPH recommends that providers prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) to symptomatic patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, even if symptoms are mild. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) can be prescribed to the majority of patients eligible for COVID-19 treatment. Remdesivir (Veklury) should be considered first when nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is clinically contraindicated, and molnupiravir (Lagevrio) may be considered if remdesivir is impractical. 

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Frequently Asked Questions about Outpatient Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 

ā€‹ā€‹1. Are available antivirals effective against new variants?

Yes.

Viruses ā€‹continuously mutate as they circulate among the population, creating new variants. COVID-19 therapeutic products vary in their vulnerability to new variants depending on their mechanism of action. 

  • Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) inhibits protease, a necessary tool in the viral replication procedure. 
  • Remdesivir (Veklury), inhibits RNA replication by incorporating itself into the viral RNA template and compromises the ability of the viral RNA synthesis. 
  • Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) causes the viral RNA to mutate until it malfunctions. *As of 1/24 Lagevrio is still under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).ā€‹
The National Cā€‹ā€‹enter Advancing Translational Sciences maintains anā€ÆOpenData Portalā€Æ(NIH.gov)ā€Ætracking COVID-19 therapeutics activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.ā€Æ

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Yes, for pharmacists.

The California Business and Professions Code (BPC) 4052.04 states a pharmacist may furnish COVID-19 oral therapeutics following a positive test for SARS-CoV-2. Pharmacy staff may also find additional assessment and treatment information at COVID-19 Treatments. Note: Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) does not list pharmacists as authorized prescribers.


No, for all other authorized prescribers.

On February 1, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised the scope of emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for both nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio) to no longer require positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing before prescribing. Patients must have a current diagnosis of symptomatic COVID-19. Clinical judgement regarding symptoms and exposure may be used when testing is not available.ā€‹ā€‹

As of May 25, 2023, Paxlovid is approved by the FDA for adults, thus prescribing is up to clinical discretion.

Read here for the most current prescribing guidelines from the CDC:  Therapeutic management of nonhospitalized adults for COVID-19 

3. What should providers consider when deciding whether to monitor patients for worsening symptoms or to prescribe? 

Antiviral treatments are indicated for mild to moderate illness with risk of progression to severe disease and have a 5- to 7-day window foā€‹r treatment. Please note that many common conditions and behaviors qualify individuals as ā€œat risk of progression to severe disease,ā€ including physical inactivity, obesity, depression, and more. Waiting for symptoms to worsen is not recommended.

If a patient is at risk for progression to severe disease and does not have any drug-drug interactions or contraindications to receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), they meet the treatment definition. If they do not qualify for treatmeā€‹ā€‹nt due to kidney or liver issues or drug-drug interactions, alternative treatments can be provided. 

The NIH provides up-to-date treatment guidelines on its website.  

4. Can children be prescribed anti-SARS-CoV-2 outpatient treatments? 

COVID-19 medications are recommended for most adults and some teens, because most people have a factor that makes them higher risk for serious COVID-19 illness. Everyone 12 years and older who has symptoms and tests positive for COVID-19 should seek evaluation for COVID-19 medication. 

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is authorized for use in childrenā€Æ12 years and olderā€Æand weighing at least 40kg under the Paxlovid EUA. It is FDA approved for the indication for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. (1) 

Remdesivir (Veklury) is approved for use in mild to moderately ill adult and pediatric (28 days of age and older weighing at least 3 kilograms) outpatients who are at risk of disease progression. For pediatric dosing, seeā€Æprescriber informationā€Æ(PDF). 

Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is only authorized for use in individualsā€Æ18 years and olderā€Ædue to its potential impact on bone and cartilage development.ā€‹ ā€‹

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5. Are anti-SARS-CoV-2 outpatient treatments safe for geriatric patients?

Multiple studies have shown that treatments are safe in the elderly without increased rates of adverse effects. Whenever possible, elderly patients should be encouraged to treat COVID-19 given the high-risk of progression to severe disease based on age alone.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): ā€œAge remains theā€Æstrongest risk factorā€Æfor severe COVID-19 outcomes, with risk of severe outcomes increasing markedly with increasing age. 

Risk of severe outcomes is increased in people of all ages with certain underlying medical conditions and in people who are 50 years and older, with risk ā€Æincreasing substantiallyā€Æat ages >65 years.

Residents of long-term care facilities are also at increased risk, making up less than 1% of the U.S. population but accounting for more than 35% of all COVID-19 deaths.ā€ 

Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Professionals | CDC

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6. How can providers check drug-drug interactions with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and other therapeutics?

Use the consultative pharmacist or COVID-19 treatments team in your facility or health system, or use one of the resources below.

Drug-drug interaction resources include:   

7. Where can I find information on the contraindications for and side effects of available COVID-19 therapeutics?

Food and Drug Adminstration fact sheets for antiviral products include information on use criteria, preparation, contraindications, drug interactions, side effects and administration. 

While not a complete list of contraindications, the following should be noted:

  • Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) has significant and complex drug-drug interaction potential, primarily due to the ritonavir component of the combination. Review additional guidance from NIH on identifying and avoiding drug interactions.
  • Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is not recommended for patients with severe hepatic or renal impairment and different dosing is required for moderate renal impairment. Given the presence of ritonavir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir may also increase the risk of HIV-1 resistance to HIV protease inhibitors in individuals with uncontrolled or undiagnosed HIV-1.
  • Remdesivir (Veklury) is not recommended in pediatric patients (greater than 28 days old) with eGFR less than 30 mL/min or in full-term neonates (at least 7 days to less than or equal to 28 days old) with serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1 mg/dL.
  • Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is not authorized for use in patients less than 18 years of age because it may affect bone and cartilage growth. For more information on these precautions, please see the National Institutes for Health section on molnupiravir (NIH.gov) and the Molnupiravir Fact Sheet (PDF).

8. Are renal and hepatic lab results required before a physician or advanced practice provider can prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid)?

Assessment of renal and hepatic function is important when considering prescribing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid).  

However, licensed physicians and advanced practice providers are not required to perform additional laboratory testing when prescribing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid). Providers should use clinical judgement to determine if labs are necessary. 

Asking a patient if they have a history of kidney or liver problems is sufficient in most cases.  Patients often know if they have renal or liver problems, therefore, it is recommended that providers ask about patientsā€™ status and check medication lists and lists of specialists that a patient has seen.   

For more information on clinical evaluation see:

ā€‹ 9. Do providers need to check patientsā€™ creatinine levels to prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid)? Is the eGFR relevant

Licensed physicians and advanced practice providers are not required to check creatinine levels in order to prescribe nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid).

The eGFR is relevant if the patient has known kidney disease.  Without an eGFR in the past year, the provider should ask if the patient has had kidney issues. For patients with kidney issues, eGFR is relevant for Paxlovid dosing recommendations (NIH.gov). ā€‹

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10. What should a provider do when a patient has known or suspected kidney or liver disease? ā€‹

Nirmatrā€‹elvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) dosing recommended in the Paxlovid Health Care Provider Fact Sheet (PDF): ā€‹
    • eGFR ā‰„30 to 60 mJ/min: Nirmatrelvir 150 mg (one 150-mg tablet) with RTV 100 mg (one 100-mg tablet) twice daily for 5 days.
    • eGFR <30 mL/mā€‹ā€‹in: Not recommended.ā€Æ 
    • Severe Hepatic Impairment (Child-Pugh Class C):ā€‹ Not recommended.ā€Æ ā€‹
For patients not eligible for renal dosing, consider ordering remdesivir, or if remdesivir is unavailable, consider molnupiravir.  For patients with severe hepatic impairment, consider molnupiravir.ā€‹

ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹For patients not eligible for renal dosing, consider ordering remdesivir, or if remdesivir is unavailable, consider molnupiravir.  For patients with severe hepatic impairment, consider molnupiravir.ā€‹

For hepatic issues, you can consult Drug Considerations for Medication Therapy in Cirrhosis ā€‹(uspharmacist.com). ā€‹

ā€‹The California Business and Professions Code (BPC) 4052.04 states that pharmacists may furnish COVID-19 oral therapeutics following a positive test for SARS-CoV-2. Note: Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) does not list pharmacists as authorized prescribers.

Authority to Furnish COVID-19 Oral Therapeutics: 

  • Subsection (a) grants pharmacists in California the authority to furnish COVID-19 oral therapeutics following a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 
ā€‹Clinical Guidelines:
  • Subsection (b) requires pharmacists to utilize relevant and appropriate evidence-based clinical guidelines published by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when providing these patient care services. 
ā€‹Notification to Primary Care Provider:
  • Subsection (c) mandates that pharmacists who furnish COVID-19 oral therapeutics notify the patient's primary care provider or enter the appropriate information in a patient record system shared with the primary care provider. If the patient doesn't have a primary care provider, the pharmacist should provide the patient with a written record of the drugs furnished and advise them to consult a physician of their choice. 

Documentation Requirements:
  • Subsection (d) requires pharmacists to document, to the extent possible, the kind and amounts of COVID-19 oral therapeutics furnished, as well as information regarding any testing services provided, in the patient's record in the pharmacy's record system. These records must be maintained for three years and be available for inspection by authorized personnel of the board. 
Definition of COVID-19 Oral Therapeutics: 
  • ā€‹Subsection (e) defines "COVID-19 oral therapeutics" as drugs that are approved or authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19 and administered orally. 
Sunset Provision: 
  • Subsection (f) states that this section will remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and will be repealed as of that date. 

Yes, an RN can assess the patient based on a standing workflow/order. Depending on the clinic workflow, the RN can sign and enter the provider's name or route the note to that provider to have them add a note that the case has been reviewed and the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) order has been approved.

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Workflows should be customized to meet the needs of each orgā€‹ā€‹ā€‹anization.    ā€‹

A sample decision-aid for outpatient treatment from HHS is linked below:  

Additional workflows and best practices for clinics can be founā€‹ā€‹d on the Center for Care Innovations Therapeutics Resource Hub (careinnovations.org).

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), residents of long-term care facilities are ā€œat increased riā€‹ā€‹ā€‹sk, making ā€‹ā€‹up less than 1% of the U.S. population but accounting for more than 35% of all COVID-19 deaths.ā€  

Best practiceā€‹ā€‹s for long term care facilities are available below:

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