How to Help Your Patients Find NovoEight in Stock: A Provider's Guide

For providers managing patients with hemophilia A, one of the most time-consuming aspects of care is pharmacy coordination. Even in the absence of a national drug shortage, patients on NovoEight (turoctocog alfa) can face significant access hurdles — and those hurdles often end up on your desk. This guide is designed to help your clinical team proactively support patients in getting their factor when they need it.

Step 1: Confirm the Specialty Pharmacy Network Before Prescribing

Before sending a NovoEight prescription, verify which specialty pharmacy is in-network for your patient's insurance plan. Not all insurance carriers use the same specialty pharmacy for hemophilia products. Key considerations:

Commercial plans often use CVS Specialty, Accredo, or BioMatrix for factor products

Medicaid plans may have state-designated specialty pharmacies or HTC pharmacy programs

Many federally funded HTCs have affiliated specialty pharmacies that are in-network for most major plans

Prescribing to an out-of-network specialty pharmacy may result in claim denial or full out-of-pocket cost

Step 2: Submit Comprehensive Prior Authorization Documentation

Incomplete PA submissions are the leading cause of NovoEight coverage delays. A strong PA submission for NovoEight should include:

Diagnosis: Hemophilia A (ICD-10: D66) with documented FVIII activity level (%)

Inhibitor status: Current Bethesda assay result confirming no inhibitors (most recent test date)

Treatment history: Prior factor exposure (number of exposure days), response to NovoEight or other FVIII products

Clinical rationale: Why NovoEight specifically (e.g., superior storage stability at 104°F for patient with active lifestyle or travel needs; established efficacy on this product; tolerability data)

Dosing rationale: Specific vial strength, frequency, and expected units per month (helps payer estimate cost commitment)

Engage NovoCare reimbursement specialists (1-844-668-6732) early — they can provide PA support letters and payer-specific documentation guidance.

Step 3: Use the NovoCare Specialist Network

Novo Nordisk deploys Rare Blood Community Liaisons (RBCLs) to support provider practices. RBCLs can:

Assist with PA submissions and appeals for denied claims

Enroll patients in the copay savings card (up to $12,000/year for commercially insured patients)

Connect uninsured patients to the NovoSecure PAP

Coordinate pharmacy-to-patient logistics for patients who cannot navigate this independently

Step 4: Address Plan Year Changes Proactively (October–January)

The highest-risk period for treatment interruption is October through January, during and immediately after open enrollment. Proactive steps for your practice:

Contact all NovoEight patients in October to ask if their insurance plan is changing

Pre-emptively submit new-year PA requests for patients on plans requiring annual reauthorization

Encourage patients to build a 7-10 day factor buffer before December 31

Brief patients on JumpStart/Interim bridge programs in case their new coverage takes time to activate

Step 5: Streamline Pharmacy Coordination with medfinder

When patients call unable to locate their factor, medfinder calls pharmacies on the patient's behalf to find which ones have the medication in stock. Directing patients to medfinder can reduce the burden on your clinic staff while helping patients get their factor faster.

Managing Emergency Access Situations

If a patient presents with an active bleed and no factor at home, escalate immediately through your HTC's emergency line. Most HTCs have 24/7 emergency contact protocols and can arrange emergency factor dispensing or direct the patient to the nearest ER with hemophilia treatment capacity. Document these events and consider using them to support PA appeals for expedited access going forward.

For a broader overview of the current availability landscape, see: NovoEight Shortage: What Providers and Prescribers Need to Know in 2026.