Bill > S01026

This bill amends the Workers' Compensation Law to allow employers or carriers to encourage, rather than require, claimants to obtain prescribed medicines from a contracted pharmacy network. The bill also provides exceptions where claimants may obtain medicines from any licensed in-state pharmacy if the network pharmacy or insurance carrier fails to timely authorize or provide access to the prescribed medicines. The bill sets out requirements for pharmacists who dispense medicines under these exceptions, including following the state's workers' compensation fee schedule, treatment guidelines, and formulary, and assuming liability for the medicines if the case is not established or the medicines are not later approved.