Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Clinical Criteria Formulary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blue Cross asks committee to remove ‘formulary’ language from clinical criteria definition
Summary
A Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota representative asked lawmakers to remove the terms “drug formulary” and “covered drug list” from the statutory definition of clinical criteria, saying those items are pharmacy policy and not part of clinical criteria.
A representative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota asked the Senate Industry and Business Committee to remove the phrases “drug formulary” and “covered drug list” from the statutory definition of clinical criteria.
Megan Ruby of Blue Cross Blue Shield told the committee that formularies and covered-drug lists are part of pharmacy policy and medical policy rather than clinical criteria. Ruby said she sent the suggested wording change to committee drafters late the prior night and asked that the terms be removed from the definition. She noted that plans post their formularies publicly and that the lists are easily found online: “I did do a quick check because all of a sudden after I sent my email, I wanted to make sure that it was easy to find,” Ruby said, adding that a search for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota formulary “pops right up.”
Senators asked whether Ruby’s suggested change had been incorporated into the draft amendments then being prepared; the committee clerk and staff said they would check once they received the proposed amendments and would circulate them to members.
No formal motion was taken on the language during the session; the committee asked staff to circulate any drafted amendments once received so members could confirm whether Ruby’s requested change was included.
The committee later proceeded to additional items on its calendar.
