Effective March 30, 2020, PharmaCare’s Limited Coverage Criteria for direct-acting anticoagulants (DOACs) are changing for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients newly starting anticoagulation treatments are no longer required to try warfarin. Warfarin is the long-established anticoagulation treatment for the prevention of ischemic strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). However, its use requires frequent lab testing when therapy is started, which may not be desirable for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. DOACs are as effective as warfarin in treating the aforementioned indications and do not require lab testing as frequently.
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