Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of a series of studies from WCRI that delve into the impact of formularies on prescription drug utilization and costs in five states (Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, and New York) that implemented formularies in 2018 and 2019. The studies also investigate the influence of these formularies on physician dispensing and generic utilization in states with relevant formulary rules.
The studies address several key areas, including whether a formulary reduced overall prescription utilization; the impact on drugs with different status under the workers’ comp drug formulary (eg were there differential effects on non-exempt, exempt, and unlisted drugs under the CA MTUS formulary); influence on various drug groups – Opioids, NSAIDs, dermatological agents, musculoskeletal therapy agents, anticonvulsants, compounds, and others; and the potential reduction in prescription payments per claim.