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

The somatropin shortage has created a new burden for endocrinology and pediatric endocrinology practices: patients — and their parents — regularly calling the office in distress because they can't fill their growth hormone prescription. This has meant more staff time on hold with specialty pharmacies, more prior authorization requests, and more urgent clinical decisions about brand switching and alternatives.

This guide provides a practical framework for helping patients navigate the shortage efficiently — reducing both patient anxiety and practice workload.

Step 1: Proactively Identify At-Risk Patients

The highest-risk patients are those currently prescribed discontinued brands. If your patient panel includes anyone still prescribed Humatrope (Eli Lilly, discontinued) or Nutropin AQ NuSpin (Genentech, discontinued December 2024), reach out now — they cannot fill their current prescription and may be going without treatment.

Run a report from your EHR or prescription management system to identify patients on discontinued brands. Contact them by phone or patient portal message before they discover the problem at the pharmacy counter.

Step 2: Create a Standard Protocol for Brand Switching

Establish a written protocol for your practice covering shortage-related brand switches. Include:

Preferred transition brands: Norditropin, Genotropin, and Omnitrope are the most widely available daily products. Identify which specialty pharmacies in your area carry each brand.

Dosing equivalence: Confirm the mg/dose equivalence (not mg/kg/week in new concentration) when prescribing a new brand. Different products have different concentrations — calculate carefully.

Device training pathway: Identify whether your office can provide device training or whether to refer to the specialty pharmacy's clinical pharmacist for device instruction.

PA submission process: Pre-authorize for shortage-related switches. Some payers have expedited pathways for shortage situations.

Step 3: Know Your Specialty Pharmacy Options

Not all specialty pharmacies carry all brands. The major specialty pharmacy networks in the U.S. for growth hormone include:

CVS Specialty — Broad formulary; carries most major growth hormone brands

Accredo (Express Scripts) — Preferred specialty pharmacy for many commercial plans

Optum Rx Specialty — UnitedHealthcare's preferred specialty pharmacy

Novo Nordisk's NovoCare preferred pharmacies — For Norditropin; contact NovoCare at 1-888-668-6444 to get a referral to in-network pharmacies with stock

Document which specialty pharmacies currently carry which brands — this changes frequently during shortages. Designate one staff member to maintain an up-to-date pharmacy directory.

Step 4: Leverage Manufacturer Patient Support Programs

Manufacturer hub programs can assist with PA submissions, specialty pharmacy routing, and patient financial assistance. Use them proactively:

NovoCare (Norditropin/Sogroya): 1-888-668-6444; offers PA support, co-pay card enrollment, and bridge supply programs

Pfizer Genotropin Hub: Contact through Pfizer's provider portal or specialty pharmacy liaison for PA and access support

Sandoz (Omnitrope): Co-pay assistance at 1-866-954-5512; patient assistance program for uninsured patients

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Step 5: Direct Patients to medfinder for Real-Time Pharmacy Search

Once a patient has a valid prescription for an available brand, direct them to medfinder to locate pharmacies with it in stock. medfinder calls pharmacies in the patient's area to check current availability and texts results directly to the patient. This removes the burden from your front desk staff and gives patients a clear path forward.

Managing Patient Communication During Shortage

Patient communication during shortages is emotionally charged — especially for families of children on growth hormone therapy, where treatment gaps can have lasting consequences. Recommend to staff:

Acknowledge the frustration: the shortage is real and widespread, not a dispensing error

Set clear expectations: a brand switch can typically be arranged within 1–5 business days

Give patients a concrete action step: use medfinder or call NovoCare today

Also read: somatropin shortage update for providers 2026 and how to help patients save money on somatropin.