The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Workers’ Compensation has issued a notice of public hearing on May 1 for the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) Drug Formulary regulations, which includes a list of preferred drugs that can be dispensed without the need for prospective utilization review.
The proposed rulemaking implements Assembly Bill 1124 (Statutes 2015, Chapter 525), which mandated the adoption of an evidence-based workers’ compensation drug formulary into the MTUS by July 1, 2017.
“We must ensure that California’s injured workers are prescribed the right medications for their conditions without frictional system delays,” said George Parisotto, DWC Acting Administrative Director. DWC is a division of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).
The May 1 public hearing on the proposed regulations has been scheduled at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay Street in Oakland.
Members of the public may also submit written comments on the regulations until 5 p.m. that day.
The MTUS Drug Formulary is based on, and consistent with, medical treatment guidelines created by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), which are published by Reed Group, Ltd. The preferred drug list was compiled by DWC, with assistance from ACOEM, and takes into consideration medications frequently prescribed for occupational injuries and the evidence-based drug recommendations in the guidelines.
“The formulary, designed to work in tandem with our medical treatment utilization guidelines, will incorporate the evidence-based standards of care that best meet the needs of California’s injured workers,” said Christine Baker, Director of DIR.
The proposed formulary regulations are to be adopted at section 9792.27.1, et seq. of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. DWC will consider all public comments, and may modify the proposed regulations for consideration during an additional 15-day public comment period.
The notice of rulemaking, text of the regulations, and the initial statement of reasons can be found on the DWC rulemaking web page.