The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently initiated Phase III, Lift 4 of the Medi-Cal Rx transition, which includes a series of Medi-Cal Rx transition policy lifts for beneficiaries 22 years of age and older.
The original Medi-Cal Rx Transition Policy included “grandfathering” previously approved prior-authorizations and a 180-day period where DHCS would not require prior authorizations for existing prescriptions to provide a seamless beneficiary experience. Given system wide issues in implementing the full pharmacy transition in January 2022, DHCS had extended this transition policy.
On June 23, 2023, Phase III, Lift 4 (P3/L4) will begin—the fourth in a series of lifts to phase out the grandfathering of these historical prior authorizations. A total of 46 Standard Therapeutic Classes (STC) will once again require prior authorization with implementation of P3/L4.
For more information about P3/L4, click here.