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The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted drug formulary draft regulations, including a proposed list of preferred drugs, on its online forum.

The goal is to adopt an evidence-based drug formulary, consistent with California’s Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), to augment the provision of high-quality medical care, maximize health, and promote return to work in a timely fashion, while reducing administrative burden and cost.

Assembly Bill 1124 (Statutes 2015, Chapter 525) requires the adoption of an evidence-based workers’ compensation drug formulary into the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) by July 1, 2017. DWC intends to concurrently adopt updated MTUS clinical topic guidelines to align with the drug formulary. The proposed updated guidelines are created by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), published by Reed Group, Ltd. The preferred drug list proposed in the draft regulations was created by DWC, in light of evidence-based drug recommendations in the guidelines.

The following documents are posted on the forum:

• Draft formulary regulation text (including preferred drug list)
• RAND Report: Implementing a Drug Formulary for California’s Workers Compensation Program
• ACOEM Treatment Guidelines
  • Ankle and Foot
  • Cervical and Thoracic Spine
  • Elbow Disorders
  • Eye
  • Hand, Wrist, and Forearm
  • Hip and Groin
  • Knee Disorders
  • Low Back Disorders 
  • Shoulder Disorders

Members of the public may review and comment on the proposals until 5 p.m. on Friday, September 16.

written by Lonce LaMon, journalist, lonce@adjustercom.com, based on the News Release submitted by the California Department of Industrial Relations' Department of Workers' Compensation (DWC)