LAI formulations can be life-changing for some patients with psychoses

How to access LAI medications for your patients:

1. Submit prescription enrollment form for LAI to specialty pharmacy.
   • Optum Specialty Pharmacy
     • OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions California HMO Enrollment Form
   • Genoa Healthcare Pharmacies (coordination of delivery and some locations offers pharmacist administration of LAI injections)
   • Other Long Term Care Pharmacies* (dependent upon patient’s health plan)
2. Ask patient to contact pharmacy about potential out of pocket expenses/administration. Genoa & Optum Specialty Pharmacy will connect directly with the patient. 
3. Specialty Pharmacy will ship or deliver medication to the location you specify. In many states, the pharmacist may be able to administer the injection.
4. Specialty Pharmacy will bill patient’s health plan (typically medical or pharmacy benefit)

*Note: Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics are a specialty medication, and every pharmacy may not be equipped to dispense.

Reducing the duration of untreated psychosis

When treating schizophrenia, the medication assessment should include the use of the long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations of antipsychotic medication; consideration should include patient age, preferences and/or a history of poor or uncertain adherence (source: American Psychiatric Association).

Use of a long-acting formulation of an antipsychotic may improve adherence, as well as response. LAI formulations may be preferred by some patients.

Human cost of Schizophrenia:

Greater Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) is correlated with diminished response to antipsychotic medication, greater duration of positive symptoms and overall poorer outcomes.

Increased Disability, Home- lessness and Incarceration: After a second episode of psychosis, people are much more likely to become disabled

Co-occurring medical conditions: Co-occurring medical conditions, such as heart disease, liver disease, and diabetes, contribute to the higher premature mortality rate among individuals with schizophrenia

Suicide: An estimated 4.9% of people with schizophrenia die by suicide, with the highest risk in the early stages of illness.