Drug List Passes Legislature, Promises to Save Millions

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The Utah Department of Health has received full approval from the State Legislature to create a list of preferred drugs - or PDL - for Medicaid recipients. The Health Department has lobbied several years for that permission, saying it will save millions in Medicaid costs. In casting the final vote, House Majority Leader Dave Clark called on state health officials to put the savings into dental and vision services for Medicaid:

"We stood here in special session before and were incredibly impugned over the cold-heartedness of the Legislature," said Clark. "I hope the Department of Health is listening and they put the savings from this PDL into programs such as dental (for Medicaid recipients)."

Clark adds that he will watch closely to see how the Health Department spends the two and a half million dollars it expects the PDL to save next year. Frequent and urgent requests to feed the state's exploding Medicaid budget is a source of ongoing tension between lawmakers, health department officials and advocacy groups.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW