The State Drug Utilization Review Board meets at SeaTac Airport.

On May 23rd the Washington State Drug Utilization Review Board voted to adopt a policy governing what many believe is the first state wrap-around drug formulary for Medicaid clients. The new policy empowers the Board to begin limiting the drug brands which will be provided to Medicaid patients, in drug classes not already covered by the more traditional state Preferred Drug List.

Under the policy the Board may remove a drug from the formulary if the drug does not have a significant therapeutic advantage over other drugs.

Before adopting the policy the Board heard emotional public testimony from patients, and organizations like Planned Parenthood and the American Diabetes Association, who expressed their opposition to the “illusionary benefit” of this new state cost saving initiative. Board members responded by emphasizing that as physicians they will always put the patient first in limiting access to any drugs.

The Board then moved quickly to take up the first drug class, blockers and inhibitors that are used to treat hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and renal nephropathy. The Board adopted a narrow list of approved drugs and then postponed action on additional drug classes until their June meeting.

For more information on the new formulary, go to http://www.rx.wa.gov/formulary.html .

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