Payer Flexibility Seen as Preventing Problems With Formulary Transition Deadline

Concerns that California's injured workers would be abruptly cut off their prescriptions when the drug formulary took effect on Jan. 1 have not come to pass, at least not yet. Joe Paduda, principal at Health Strategy Associates, said payers have created a grace period on their own. He said problems could still arise in the future if doctors don’t heed the new formulary rules, but at the moment carriers and pharmacy benefit managers are being lenient when it comes to enforcement. “While payers have the ability and authority to cut off scripts, they are really trying ...