How you can provide input on drugs covered by Medicaid plans

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — You will be able to provide input into which medications are covered under Medicaid Monday during a virtual meeting hosted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The annual Michigan Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary stakeholder meeting will be held on Zoom from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In the meeting, participants will be able to weigh in on the prescription list under the state’s Medicaid health plans. That list called the Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary was created in 2016 to make sure that prescription drugs are common across all contracted plans. In October 2020, the list began aligning with the Michigan Preferred Drug List. Having a common formulary list is required by state law.

Some changes to the list that went into effect in September include medication like nasal spray for migraine therapy, sickle cell anemia agents and a drug for Huntington’s Disease for Movement Disorder Therapy.

Penny Rutledge, the director of the Bureau of Medicaid Care Management at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the meeting is a great way for people to get their voice heard about what is covered.

“Our primary goal is to put people who are on Medicaid first in their need and providing them with excellent healthcare. That’s our primary goal. All other things are secondary,” Rutledge said. “If we’re lacking in something, then we like to hear from people in forums like this where they can share with us, what do we need to add? What do we need to do differently, because we really want to meet their needs.”

The meeting is open to the public. You can access it here using the password 7W4ZkU. If you have any questions or comments you can send them to MDHHSCommonFormulary@michigan.gov .

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