§346-312.5  Rx plus preferred drug list. (a)  The department shall establish an Rx plus preferred drug list thatincludes but is not limited to:

(1)  Drugs listed on the State's medicaid preferreddrug list;

(2)  Antipsychotic drugs;

(3)  Antidepressant drugs;

(4)  Chemotherapy drugs;

(5)  Antiretroviral drugs;

(6)  Immunosuppressive drugs; and

(7)  Any other drugs listed on the Rx plus preferreddrug list pursuant to this section.

(b)  The pharmacy and therapeutic committee shall reviewand recommend drugs for placement on the Rxplus preferred drug list, striving to identify the safest and most efficacious drugsthat are available at the lowest cost.  The committee's recommendations may take into considerationany of the following factors:

(1)  Therapeutic value for the disease orcondition under treatment;

(2)  Clinical efficacy;

(3)  Safety;

(4)  Cost; and

(5)  Other relevant factors as determined by thecommittee.

(c)  When considering categories of drugs designed to treatspecialized chronic medical conditions and diseases, the committee shallconsult with physicians and other health care professionals with specializedclinical knowledge and expertise in this area, either in their capacity asconsultants serving on a subcommittee of the committee, or as physicians orpharmacists with a practice or specialty in chronic diseases.

(d)  The determination of a drug's safety and efficacy shall beconsistent with the standards set forth in the peer-reviewed literature andother available sources, including but not limited to:

(1)  TheAmerican Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information;

(2)  TheUnited States Pharmacopoeia Drug Information;

(3)  TheDRUGDEX System; and

(4)  The American MedicalAssociation Drug Evaluations.

(e)  The determination of a drug's net cost shall consider thepharmacy reimbursement amount authorized under section 346-317, as adjusted bymanufacturer's rebates to be paid to the department.  The committee shalldetermine that a drug has no significant clinical or safety advantages over oneor more alternative drugs when used for a given purpose before it may considerthe drug's net cost. [L 2004, c 47, pt of §1; am L 2005, c 22, §20]