Periodic investigations of pharmacies by Division of Criminal Justice. Brand medically necessary. Procedure for prior approval to dispense brand name drug. Disclosure - Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-274

The Division of Criminal Justice must conduct periodic pharmacy investigations to assess whether pharmacies are improperly billing Connecticut’s medical assistance program for brand name drugs rather than less expensive generic drugs. Practitioners may prescribe brand name drugs for medical assistance beneficiaries if medically necessary. Practitioners must include the phrase “brand medically necessary” on the prescription form. Pharmacists must obtain prior approval, pursuant to a procedure established by the Commissioner of Social Services, from a pharmacy consultant before dispensing a brand name drug instead of an available generic drug. Medical practitioners must disclose the medical basis for prescribing a brand name rather than generic drug upon request by the Department of Social Services.