Connecticut Legislature Approves Plan To Require Greater Use of Generic Drugs

The Connecticut Legislature on June 6 approved a revised generic drug plan for state-funded health programs that would require prior authorization before a doctor can prescribe a brand-name drug if a generic version is available, the Hartford Courant reports. The program requires doctors to contact a call center and "make a case" for prescribing a brand-name drug to a beneficiary of Medicaid; ConnPACE, the state's prescription drug assistance program for seniors and people with disabilities; or general assistance. If the doctor fails to call for approval, the pharmacist filling the prescription would have had to contact the doctor to obtain permission to prescribe the brand-name drug. If the call center decides a generic drug should be prescribed instead, doctors can appeal the decision. The plan is expected to reduce the state Department of Social Services' $400 million annual prescription drug costs by $5.5 million per year. The approved bill would alter the current system, under which patients receive a generic medication unless doctors specify on the prescription that a specific brand-name drug be used. Some advocates have criticized the plan, saying that patients with HIV/AIDS or mental illnesses could be harmed by switching from brand-name to generic drugs. In addition, Sheldon Toubman, who represents a coalition of legal assistance and patient advocacy groups that opposed the original plan, said that some patients will "leave their drugstores empty-handed" if pharmacists fail to "track down" busy doctors to get prior authorization. But Michael Starkowski, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Social Services, said, "You've got to have some faith and confidence in us that we're going to set up a system that is going to accomodate the health of our clients." Although the plan is "months away" from being implemented, the social services department is in contract negotiations with a firm that could run the program (Condon, Hartford Courant, 6/7).