Medicaid Drug Formulary Approved by Louisiana House Panel, Rx Advice Hotline Unveiled in Massachusetts
The following summarizes recent prescription drug news from Massachusetts and Louisiana.
- Louisiana: The state House Health and Welfare Committee approved a bill (HB 1596) on May 23 that would create a drug formulary for the state's Medicaid program. Under the legislation, a committee of physicians, pharmacists, pharmacologists and state Medicaid officials would create a list of the drugs and drug types of "routinely filled" prescriptions. Doctors wishing to prescribe drugs not on the list would need "special permission" to prescribe them. House and Senate health committees would be able to approve or reject the formulary once it was created. The House committee passed the plan unanimously, but it requires that a Medicaid beneficiary sit on the formulary committee and that the panel reflect the "geographic, racial and gender" makeup of the state. The committee defeated attempts to exempt mental health drugs from the restrictions and to ensure that patients receive certain treatments that they are currently receiving. The plan is expected to save the state's Medicaid program $35 million. The Senate has already passed similar legislation and the bill will be considered by the full House (Shuler, Baton Rouge Advocate, 5/24).
- Massachusetts: The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy is launching a toll-free hotline to offer free prescription advice to seniors and low-income patients, the Boston Globe reports. MassMedLine is staffed by pharmacists who can answer questions about drug interactions and the availability of programs that offer low-cost and free prescriptions. The program will last five years and is being funded by $1.5 million in combined federal and state grants. When the program is "fully operational" by July 1, the staff will offer more "general advice to anyone interested." The toll free number is (866) 633-1617 (Tye, Boston Globe, 5/24).
