Effective August 6, 2021, 17beta (b)-estradiol, dutasteride, finasteride, leuprolide, and spironolactone have been added to the ADAP formulary.

According to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society, these medications are the most commonly used and recommended gender affirming hormone-treatment options for transgender women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's HIV and Transgender People webpage (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/gender/transgender/index.html) states that transgender people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience high rates of stigma, discrimination, social rejection, and exclusion – factors which result in lower rates of both engagement in HIV medical care and of HIV viral suppression. Gender-affirming hormone therapy is a critical need for transgender people living with HIV and the addition of these gender-affirming medications to the ADAP formulary is expected to result in improvements to overall health, HIV care, and viral suppression.

ADAP management requests that you share this information with your clinical leadership team and local prescribers. The ADAP drug formulary has been updated to reflect the addition of 17b-estradiol, dutasteride, finasteride, leuprolide, and spironolactone. Access to the updated formulary is available at the following URL: https://cdph.magellanrx.com/member/documents.

If you have any questions regarding the addition of these medications to the ADAP formulary, please contact the OA Formulary Specialist, James Vo, (James.Vo@cdph.ca.gov).

Thank you,