The Health Authority promulgated three new rules, all effective on September 14.
- Final rule requiring the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) program comply with federal standards to monitor opioid prescribing and dispensing patterns, adding an automated claims review process to monitor concurrent use of opioids with benzodiazepines and/or antipsychotics, a program to monitor the use of antipsychotics by members aged 18 and younger, and a process to identify potential fraud and abuse of controlled substances.
- Final rule revising step therapy protocols for medications approved by the Drug Utilization Review Board and establish exceptions for such protocols, and establishing an appeals process for step therapy exception requests which have been denied.
- Final rule removing prescription limits for certain frequently monitored prescription and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) drugs for opioid use disorder. The rule also removes co-payments for MAT drugs, revises prescription quantity limits for products on the maintenance drug list and allows certain products to be dispensed in quantities up to a 90-day supply.
Also in Oklahoma. The Board of Pharmacy adopted two new rules effective September 11.
- Final rule correcting a statutory citation regarding requirements for pharmacists prescribing naloxone.
- Final rule updating standards for pharmacy operations, including prohibiting pharmacists from serving as a pharmacist-in-charge at more than one pharmacy at a time, adding refrigerator and freezer temperature requirements, and clarifying requirements for shipments of pharmaceuticals.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.