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2010 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Houck
Exempt Behavioral Health Drugs from Medicaid PDL

Item 297 #15s

Item 297 #15s

First Year - FY2011 Second Year - FY2012
Health And Human Resources
Medical Assistance Services, Department of FY2011 $989,396 FY2012 $1,119,227 GF
FY2011 $1,248,551 FY2012 $1,119,227 NGF

Language
Page 196, line 50, strike "$6,806,326,159" and insert "$6,808,564,106".
Page 196, line 50, strike "$7,272,405,030" and insert "$7,274,643,484".
Page 200, after line 7, insert:
"7.  The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall (i) exempt antidepressant, antianxiety and antipsychotic medications used for the treatment of mental illness from the Medicaid Preferred Drug List program; (ii) continually review utilization of behavioral health medications under the State Medicaid Program for Medicaid recipients; and (iii) ensure appropriate use of these medications according to federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved indications and dosage levels.  The department may also require retrospective clinical justification according to FDA approved indications and dosage levels for the use of multiple behavioral health drugs for a Medicaid patient.  For individuals 18 years of age and younger who are prescribed three or more behavioral health drugs, the department may implement clinical edits that target inefficient, ineffective, or potentially harmful prescribing patterns in accordance with FDA approved indications and dosage levels.  When such patterns are identified, the department shall notify the Medical Director for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services who may require a peer-to-peer consultation with the target prescribers, in coordination with the Department of Medical Assistance Services.  Alternatives discussed during peer-to-peer consultations may be based upon: (i) evidence-based criteria available regarding efficacy or safety of the covered treatments; (ii) policy approval by the Drug Utilization Review Board; and/or (iii) FDA approved indications and dosage levels.  However, the target prescriber has final decision-making authority to determine which behavioral health medications to prescribe or refill."
Page 200, line 8, strike "7." and insert "8."


Explanation
(This amendment adds language to continue the current exemption of antidepressant, antianxiety and antipsychotic medications used to treat mental illness from the Medicaid Preferred Drug List. Funding is also restored that was reduced in the introduced budget from the estimated savings of including these medications in the Medicaid Preferred Drug List program. Language is added requiring the Department of Medical Assistance Services to continue to review utilization of these medications and ensure appropriate use and dosage requirements are followed. If negative prescribing patterns are detected the department is required to notify the medical director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services who may require peer consultation with the prescriber. However, the language does not preempt the authority of the prescriber from determining which medication to prescribe or refill.)