Calif. updates drug formulary with COVID-19 treatment

The California Workers’ Compensation Division on Thursday announced updates to its drug formulary to include treatments for COVID-19 infections.

The Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule drug list, which adheres to the recently adopted and evidence-based American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guideline, divides treatments into categories of exempt, which do not need prior approval for a seven-day supply, and non-exempt, which must go through the prospective review process.

The updates, which go into effect Aug. 1, include such pharmaceuticals as antivirals, anticoagulants, which prevent blood clotting, corticosteroids, and antimalarial drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, which will not require a pre-authorization and became a controversial treatment early in the pandemic.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.