Concerning prescription drug use in state purchased health care programs.
Summary
Imposes a restriction on dispense as written authority when there is evidence the prescriber's frequency of using dispense as written varies significantly from other prescribers, for a patient's first course of treatment if there is a less expensive and equally effective therapeutic alternative generic drug available, and for off-label use of drugs when there are less expensive and equally effective drugs available to treat the same conditions.
Provides exceptions to the restrictions on dispense as written authority when the prescribed drugs are medically necessary.
Allows the state to designate less expensive and equally effective generic drugs as preferred drugs without review by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
Allows the state to designate equally effective over-the-counter drugs as preferred drugs.
Requires pharmacies to dispense prescribed nonpreferred drugs for refills of antipsychotic, antidepressant, chemotherapy, antiretroviral, immunosuppressive, and antiepileptic drugs, or for a specific treatment of Hepatitis C.
For antipsychotic drugs, the prior authorization program must provide responses within 24 hours and a 72-hour emergency supply of the requested drug.
From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5892), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗