HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81
(By Delegates Beane, Kuhn, Butcher, Ennis, Hatfield, Iaquinta, Manchin, Manuel, Martin, Perdue, Talbott, Wright, Yeager, Yost, Leggett, Azinger, Blair, Caruth, Frich, Romine, Schoen and Walters)

(Originating in the Committee on Government Organization)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a study of the cost and effectiveness of the medicaid program preferred drug list.

Whereas, the West Virginia department of health and human resources and the bureau of medical services have developed, implemented and use a preferred drug list for the West Virginia medicaid program that requires the use of preferred drugs; and
Whereas, the West Virginia department of health and human resources and the bureau of medical services now require physicians and other health care providers to obtain prior authorization before prescribing any drug or pharmaceutical that is not included on the preferred drug list; and
Whereas, there are concerns among the citizens of West Virginia, doctors and other health care professionals and the Legislature about whether the utilization of the preferred drug list results in increased costs to the state through additional administrative costs for health care providers and increased costs to patients through additional office visits, consultations, or hospitalizations resulting from adverse reactions caused by changing medications or taking a drug other than the one originally prescribed or desired by the treating physician, many of which costs are ultimately borne by the state medicaid program; and
Whereas, the Legislature desires information regarding the efficacy and cost of maintaining the preferred drug list and the prior authorization program; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby directed to review, examine and study the overall effects of the preferred drug list and the prior authorization program as they relate to cost of implementing and maintaining the program to the department of health and human resources or for other agencies of state government; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study include an analysis of the administrative and other costs related to the use of the preferred drug list and the prior authorization program; an analysis of any additional costs that have been incurred by the department of health and human resources, patients and health care providers resulting from the preferred drug list and the prior authorization program; and the overall cost effectiveness of the program, all with input from the affected constituencies, including but not limited to the department of health and human resources, individual patients, patient advocates, health care providers, pharmacists, pharmaceutical manufacturers and others; and, be it
Further Resolved, That joint committee on government and finance shall report to the Legislature on or before the first day of December 2003, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, and shall submit drafts of any legislation deemed necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the joint committee on government and finance.