Outpatient COVID-19 Therapeutic Agents

 

Throughout the pandemic, UMMS has utilized all available options to provide patients with the most appropriate treatment for COVID-19. This includes the use of therapeutic agents to treat high-risk patients with mild to moderate symptoms. When used as authorized, these treatments have demonstrated the ability to reduce the likelihood of progression to severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Several therapeutic agents have been made available by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA):

• Monoclonal antibodies (mAb)
• Oral antiviral medications
• Remdesivir

As with many other aspects of our COVID-19 response, timing is critical for patients to realize the benefits of these therapies. It is essential to have a clearly defined process for identifying eligible patients and linking them to the most suitable option within the necessary timeframe. This policy outlines each step of the care continuum—from testing and evaluating patients to prescribing or referring—to ensure eligible patients receive treatment when it is most effective for their recovery. The UMMS Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Algorithm is available to providers to assist in selecting the right therapeutic based on treatment recommendations and individual patient risk factors.

Click here to view the Outpatient COVID-19 Therapeutic Agents policy.

FAQs

What criteria should I use to assess whether the patient is at clinical risk?

The therapeutic agents currently available under FDA EUA are for non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate symptoms who are at high risk for progression to severe illness, hospitalization and death. Providers should follow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines and the FDA EUA patient criteria to determine the best course of treatment for each patient. Providers may also reference the UMMS Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Algorithm to assist in patient evaluation.

Should I pursue multiple treatment options for my patient?

No. Providers should assess each patient using the guidelines outlined above, and select the most appropriate therapeutic agent for the patient.

When should these therapeutic agents be administered?

Eligible patients should be treated as soon as possible after onset of COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, and within five days of symptom onset for the greatest benefit. Oral antiviral medications and mAbs should be administered as soon as possible to achieve optimal efficacy. See the UMMS Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Algorithm for additional information.

Providers should use the UMMS Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment Algorithm to assess patients and recommend the most appropriate treatment based on individual risk factors.

What should I do if testing is not available in my practice?

Providers who are not able to test in their office or an in an adjacent outside area can refer patients to an existing community testing site using the state’s COVID-19 testing site locator. At home point-of-care (POC) test results may also be used to verify a patient’s COVID-19 status without the need for a confirmatory laboratory test.