Bill > HB0018

This bill amends Utah's Medicaid Preferred Drug List program by establishing specific rules for psychotropic drugs, which are medications used to treat mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Previously, psychotropic drugs were largely excluded from the preferred drug list, but this bill introduces a phased approach to their inclusion. Initially, healthcare providers can override the preferred drug list for psychotropic drugs by writing "dispense as written" on prescriptions, but this override will be eliminated by October 1, 2019, and replaced with a prior authorization system, similar to how other drugs are managed. The bill also mandates that the state track provider prescribing patterns for psychotropic drugs and implement educational programs to encourage compliance with the preferred drug list, with specific targets for provider adherence to be met by July 2017, 2018, and 2019. Furthermore, it creates a restricted account to hold 40% of the savings generated from including psychotropic drugs on the preferred drug list, up to a maximum of $2 million, with these funds to be appropriated by the Legislature for use by the Department of Human Services. The bill also clarifies that immunosuppressive drugs, used to prevent organ transplant rejection, will continue to be exempt from preferred drug list requirements and step therapy, meaning patients can receive them as prescribed without needing to try other medications first, provided the provider and patient consent.