Workers comp drug formulary bill advances in Pennsylvania House
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Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a workers compensation drug formulary, putting the state in line with a national trend of states governing prescription habits among doctors to curb overprescribing of certain drugs, including opioids.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Labor and Industry Committee on Monday received a bill for consideration that would create an evidence-based list of preferred pharmaceuticals in workers comp practices, revising the state’s 102-year-old workers comp code.
House Bill 18 would mandate the selection of an “evidence-based prescription drug formulary appropriate for resolving issues related to drugs prescribed for or related to the treatment of work-related injuries, including, but not limited to, the type, dosage, and duration of prescriptions,” according to a draft of the bill.
Drugs or prescription protocols not listed on the formulary would be subject to a “utilization review organization,” according to the draft.
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