Workers' compensation bureau says outpatient medication formulary reflects pharmacy committee changes; lawmakers press on mental‑health coverage

Bureau of Workers' Compensation officials told the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review that the bureau is rescinding an existing outpatient medication formulary appendix and enacting a revised appendix that reflects recommendations from its Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee.

The change was described during committee discussion of “Bureau Workers' Compensation 4120 three‑six‑twenty one‑three,” identified in the meeting as the outpatient medication formulary rule. Representative Brenner asked whether the update could leave injured workers without previously covered prescriptions.

Pete Mahali, director of enterprise legal services at the bureau, said the formulary process dates to the bureau’s initial review in February 2011 and that the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee advises the bureau about which drugs and any…