Every quarter, a review committee with Medco Health meets to discuss the preferred drug lists used by both the State Health Plan and MUSC Options, among others. The committee, a group of independent doctors and pharmacists, evaluates medications based on their safety and effectiveness and to ensure clinical integrity among all the medication/therapeutic categories of these preferred drug lists.

Based on the committee's review, certain medications may be added or removed from the preferred drug lists. Generally, new drugs are added every quarter, and existing drugs are removed twice a year. However, a medication may be removed at any time if there are safety concerns or if a generic becomes available to replace the brand name drug.

Following the committee's review, Medco announces those drugs to be added or deleted from the preferred drug lists. Those updates are available on the Employee Insurance Program website at www.eip.sc.gov. Go to "News and Updates." New lists will be posted each quarter following the committee's review.

There may be times when your physician feels that a non-preferred medication would be most appropriate for your condition. In this case, your plan will cover the non-preferred drug at the higher co-payment. Keep in mind that the pay-the-difference policy would also apply if there was a generic alternative available.

Below are links to the additions and deletions to Medco’s preferred drug lists for the first quarter of 2004. If you have any questions about the State Health Plan or MUSC Options preferred drug lists, or about your Prescription Drug Program in general, call Medco Health at 800-711-3450.

• First quarter 2004 additions to the State Health Plan
• First quarter 2004 deletions from the State Health Plan
• First quarter 2004 additions to MUSC Options
• First quarter 2004 deletions from MUSC Options