Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board Meeting Summary - November 16, 2006

Board Meeting November 16, 2006:

The Drug Utilization Review Board (DURB) was advised of new drug class additions to the Preferred Drug Program effective in January 2007 including therapeutic antifungals (oral), antivirals used for the treatment of herpes, fluoroquinolones and third generation cephalosporins.

The DURB was advised of the Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee's recommendations to the Board that the DUR Board collaborate with the P&T Committee through a prescriber educational outreach initiative. This initiative would focus on the appropriate utilization of topical immunomodulators and third generation cephalosporins by means of a data exploration on these drugs through Health Information Designs (HID). Other matters discussed included the Medicaid Program Part-D wrap-around benefit for dual eligible enrollees which includes atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, anti-retrovirals used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and anti-rejection drugs used in the treatment of tissue and organ transplants.

The DURB was advised of the progress of the Mental Health Transformation Grant Proposal, the Annual Eastern DUR Conference, the NYS Medicaid Monthly Activity Statistical Report for Year 2006, and the upcoming transition of the DUR Program from under the current auspices of the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) to the Office of Health Insurance Programs (OHIP). Other topics included Albany College of Pharmacy (ACP) internships, a study of hyperkalemia in the NYS Medicaid population, and a letter from DOH Commissioner Novello to practitioners who prescribe controlled substances.

Topical Immunomodulators-

DUR vendor Health Information Designs (HID) proposed criteria enhancements through "November 2006 Protopic and Elidel Criteria Recommendations for New York Medicaid". The Board passed unanimously a motion to accept the proposed enhancement criteria for Elidel and Protopic.

Meeting Summary Posted 5/19/09