The Drug Formulary Committee uses an open, transparent process to review and recommend the drugs covered by Medicaid and MinnesotaCare through the uniform preferred drug list and determine which of those drugs requires prior authorization, or an approval before payment, to ensure medications are medically necessary for specific patients, and appropriate for their situation. The Drug Formulary Committee carries out its duties as described in Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0625, subd. 13.
Drug Formulary Committee meetings are open to the public. Public comment period for each meeting begins on the day we post the agenda and continues until 15 days after each meeting. See public comments section for more information.
Committee members include four physicians, at least three pharmacists, a consumer representative and knowledgeable health care professionals who all submit a conflict-of-interest form DHS-3785 (PDF). The Department of Human Services (DHS) provides the committee with data and information about the impact of its decision on the quality of patient care.
Appointing authority: Commissioner of Human Services
We recommend you register in advance to attend the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The webinar will be open at 5 p.m. (Central Time) on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022.
Directions for the public to sign up to provide live testimonials via webinar during the public forum:
Interested parties who wish to provide live testimonials during the public forum should email mn.dhs.dfc@state.mn.us no later than Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, 5 p.m. (Central Time) AND register for the webinar using the webinar registration link provided on this page before the date of the webinar.
Interested parties who sign up to provide live testimonials must check in to the webinar by 5:15 p.m. (Central Time) and be ready to provide their testimonials when their names are called. Their lines will be unmuted during the public forum. All other lines will be muted.
An interested party’s testimonial is limited to three minutes. If more than 20 people wish to provide public comment during the public forum, we will reduce the time to ensure all people are able to provide comment before the committee.
In-person option:
Elmer Andersen Building, Room 2370
540 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
Note: All Drug Formulary Committee members will participate in the meeting virtually.
Directions for the public to sign up to provide live testimonials in person during the public forum:
Interested parties who wish to provide live testimonials during the public forum should email mn.dhs.dfc@state.mn.us no later than Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, 5 p.m. (Central Time).
Interested parties who sign up to provide live testimonials in person must be present in room 2370 of Elmer Andersen Building at 5:15 p.m. (Central Time) and be ready to provide their testimonials when their names are called.
An interested party’s testimonial is limited to three minutes. If more than 20 people wish to provide public comment during the public forum, we will reduce the time to ensure all people are able to provide comment before the committee.
Email all questions regarding the Drug Formulary Committee meeting to: mn.dhs.dfc@state.mn.us.
Check-In (in-person and virtual): 5 to 5:15 p.m. (Central Time)
Public Meeting: 5:15 to 9 p.m. (Central Time)
Meeting materials will be posted at least seven days before the public meeting.
Public Forum 5:15 p.m. up to 6:15 p.m. (Central Time)
Report of the Chair
Approval of the Minutes
DHS Housekeeping
Old Business
New Business
Preferred Drug List (PDL) Review
Consent Agenda Items:
HEPATITIS B AGENTS
LEUKOTRIENE MODIFIERS
LIPOTROPICS, STATINS
NEUROPATHIC PAIN
OPHTHALMICS FOR ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS
PANCREATIC ENZYMES
PHOSPHATE BINDERS
PLATELET AGGREGATION INHIBITORS
PROGESTINS FOR CACHEXIA
PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA TREATMENTS
DIABETES METERS, CONTINUOUS
TRANSMITTERS AND SENSORS
Discussion Items:
CYTOKINE AND CAM ANTAGONISTS
HEPATITIS C AGENTS
HYPOGLYCEMICS, INSULIN AND RELATED AGENTS
IMMUNOMODULATORS, ATOPIC DERMATITIS
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVES, ORAL
INTRANASAL RHINITIS AGENTS
LIPOTROPICS, OTHER
MACROLIDES/KETOLIDES
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AGENTS
NSAIDS
OPHTHALMIC ANTIBIOTICS
OPHTHALMICS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES
OPHTHALMICS, GLAUCOMA AGENTS
OPIATE DEPENDENCE TREATMENTS
OTIC ANTIBIOTICS
PAH AGENTS, ORAL AND INHALED
SEDATIVE HYPNOTICS
SMOKING CESSATION
STIMULANTS AND RELATED AGENTS
ULCERATIVE COLITIS AGENTS
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AGENTS
Existing Drugs and Specialty Drugs for Continued Prior Authorization (PA)
Discussion Items:
The Department of Human Services seeks public input regarding the composition of the Drug Formulary Committee.
The 2021 Minnesota Legislature directed the Department of Human Services to obtain public input on the current composition of the Drug Formulary Committee.
There will be a public meeting on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, from 2-4 p.m. hosted by Management Analysis and Development, a section of Minnesota Management and Budget that provides neutral management consulting services for the public sector.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
At the meeting, we will discuss if the current Drug Formulary Committee has adequate representation of members and health care professionals with expertise in clinical prescribing. We will also ask for recommendations that participants have about the membership of the Committee. We will use your input to provide an overview of the current committee composition and any recommended revisions to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committee with jurisdiction over health and human services by Mar. 1, 2022.
If you are unable to attend the public meeting or would like to provide written input on the current composition of the Drug Formulary Committee, you can provide written comments at Drug Formulary Committee composition stakeholder feedback form until Friday Dec. 3, 2021, 4:30 p.m.
Background information about the Drug Formulary Committee:
The Drug Formulary Committee is empowered by the Minnesota Legislature (as described in Minnesota Statutes 256B.0625, subd. 13) to review and recommend the drugs covered by Medicaid and MinnesotaCare through the Uniform Preferred Drug (PDL) list. The Drug Formulary Committee determines which drugs require prior authorization to ensure medications are medically necessary for specific patients and appropriate for their situation. The Committee, appointed by the Commissioner of Human Services, is composed of four physicians (one in the treatment of mental illnesses), at least three pharmacists, a consumer representative, and other health care professionals that serve three-year terms.
Public comments
Public comment period begins the day the agenda is posted and continues until 15 days after each meeting.
You must submit the completed conflict of interest disclosure form with public comment. Comments submitted without a completed conflict of interest disclosure form will be marked as such, but still provided to the committee members.
Public comments submitted at least three days prior to the meeting will be forwarded to DFC members prior to the meeting.
Public comments submitted less than two days prior to the meeting will be provided to the DFC members at the meeting.
Public comments submitted after the DFC meeting will be reviewed by DHS staff.
Public meetings
We post agendas on this page a month before each meeting. Agenda changes may take place up to one week before the meeting.
DHS proposed policies, including draft prior authorization criteria or changes to the Uniform Preferred Drug List, that will be reviewed by DFC members at the public meeting will be posted on this page at least seven days prior to the public meeting.
Each meeting begins with up to one hour as a public forum.
Public comments are heard during the public forum hour; the remainder of the meeting will include committee member discussion of agenda items.
The chairperson of the committee may make adjustments to the agenda during the meeting.
Public forum at each public meeting
Public comments are limited to the topics on the agenda and are accepted by DHS for up to 15 days following each meeting.
Materials provided to the committee or DHS will not be returned to the person distributing them.
To provide public comment, people are asked to:
Sign up at least 30 minutes before the meeting. The sign-up sheet is final once the meeting starts.
Support comments with published scientific evidence.
Limit comments to three minutes each meeting. If more than 20 people wish to provide public comment during the public forum, time will be reduced to ensure all people are able to provide comment before the committee.
Complete a conflict of interest disclosure form and read it aloud to the committee before offering their public comment.
To request an accommodation: For individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to attend the meeting, please email a request to: mn.dhs.dfc@state.mn.us.
