10/19/2023

Prescription Drugs Covered by Medicaid Health Plans Topic of October Meeting

The public is invited to attend a virtual meeting hosted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Monday, Oct. 30, regarding the list of prescription drugs covered under Michigan’s Medicaid health plans known as the Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an annual forum for the public, stakeholders, and interested parties to comment on the prescription list. This forum is in addition to the quarterly written public comment periods.

The annual Michigan Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary stakeholder meeting will be held virtually from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Monday, Oct. 30 via Zoom. Attendees are asked to RSVP by emailing KrepsD@michigan.gov by Oct. 26. The meeting can be accessed by clicking this link and entering the password 8MYTaV. Participants may also access the meeting by phone by dialing 636-651-3128 and entering access code 287658.

“We value and seek the feedback of Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries to comment on whether prescription drugs on the list will meet their health needs,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director. “We welcome their participation in this public meeting and look forward to hearing their input as well as feedback from providers and other stakeholders.”

MDHHS created the common formulary in 2016 to streamline drug coverage policies for Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries and providers. The common formulary is required in state law and in the Medicaid health plan contract to ensure that prescription drugs are common across all contracted plans.

Medicaid health plans may be less restrictive – but not more restrictive – than the coverage in the common formulary for products not on the Michigan Preferred Drug List, which is a subset of the drugs listed on the common formulary.

As of Oct. 1, 2020, the common formulary coverage for products began aligning with the Michigan Preferred Drug List – including any prior authorization and step therapy requirements.  

Find more information about the common formulary including the list of covered prescription drugs at Michigan.gov/MCOpharmacy.

If you need special services to join the meeting, please contact the MDHHS Compliance office by emailing MDHHS-ComplianceOffice@michigan.gov or calling 517-284-1018.

Those unable to attend can submit questions or comments to the Common Formulary mailbox at MDHHSCommonFormulary@michigan.gov.