The DWC has scheduled a public meeting to discuss issues related to developing an evidence-based drug formulary for use in the workers’ compensation system. The meeting will be held on Monday, September 14, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Elihu Harris State Office Building Auditorium, 1515 Clay Street in Oakland.

This meeting is an opportunity for the public to provide input to the Division on developing and implementing a formulary. DWC will facilitate discussion on how to best achieve the intended goals of an evidence-based drug formulary in the workers’ compensation system, which include the following:

1) Improve appropriate care through the dispensing of evidenced-based medicine
2) Expedite pharmaceutical treatment for ill and injured workers
3) Reduce delays, including the reducing the need for elevated utilization review and independent medical review
4) Improve efficient delivery of medical benefits and reduce administrative costs.

At its most basic level, a formulary is a list of medicines. Traditionally, a formulary contained a collection of formulas for the compounding and testing of medication (a resource closer to what would be referred to as a pharmacopoeia today). Today, the main function of a prescription formulary is to specify particular medications that are approved to be prescribed under a particular public or private payment program. The development of prescription formularies is based on evaluations of efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of drugs.

By the turn of the millennium, 156 countries had national or provincial essential medicines lists and 135 countries had national treatment guidelines and/or formulary manuals. In the US, where a system of private healthcare is in place, a formulary is a list of prescription drugs available to enrollees. When used appropriately, formularies can help manage drug costs. Most formularies cover at least one drug in each drug class, and encourage generic substitution (also known as a preferred drug list).