CWCI Studying Potential Benefits of Formulary

By Greg Jones, Western Bureau ChiefSAN FRANCISCO – The California Workers’ Compensation Institute wants to know whether a closed formulary could help corral pharmacy prices, which have been increasing at a faster rate than other medical expenses, and reduce questionable prescriptions for narcotic painkillers.An answer could come in about a month, when CWCI publishes results of a study evaluating what pharmacy costs would be in California if it used a formulary similar to those in Texas or Washington state, according to Rena David, senior vice president of research and operations.In...