NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
2021 PREFERRED DRUG LIST REVIEW PANEL MEETING
THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2021 9:00AM - 2:00PM
VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETING PLATFORM
I. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Facilitator, Blake Cook, NC Medicaid Outpatient Pharmacy Manager began the meeting by welcoming all
attendees to the meeting and thanked the panel members for their time investment to the Preferred Drug List
(PDL) review process. Excluding the Medicaid Director of Pharmacy, the term of the current seated PDL
Review Panel runs from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022. All PDL appointees were in attendance and
introduced themselves.
• Dr. Angela Smith, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Director, representing NC Division of Health Benefits
• Dr. Fern Paul-Aviles, Pharmacist, representing Hospital-Based Pharmacy
• Dr. Casey Johnson, Pharmacist, representing NC Association of Pharmacists
• Dr. Anna Miller-Fitzwater, Physician, representing NC Pediatric Society
• Dr. Theodore Zarzar, Physician, representing NC Psychiatric Association
• Dr. Duncan Vincent, Physician, NC Chapter of the American College of Physicians
• Dr. Jessica Triche, Physician, representing NC Academy of Family Physicians
• Dr. Christopher Heery, Physician, representing Research-Based Pharmaceutical Company
• Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt, Physician, representing NC Physician Advisory Group; Pharmacy and
Therapeutics Committee
• Dr. Karen Melendez, Physician, representing Community Care of North Carolina
• Dr. Stephen Houser, Physician, representing Old North State Medical Society
.
Mr. Cook talked about the procedures and guidelines for the virtual meeting and gave general information
about the PDL and PDL processes.
The proposed changes to the PDL were posted for a 45-day public comment period from January 22 to March
8, 2021.
The PDL general guidance is trial and failure of two preferred products before coverage of a non-preferred
option (unless otherwise noted). Category or drug specific exceptions in the PDL will be noted during the
review. In addition, applicable clinical criteria, identified in red lettering, will be mentioned.
For each drug category reviewed, the recommendations will be stated, and the public comments and
registered speakers announced. Speakers are limited to three minutes and should focus on recent changes or
updates about the product. The Panel members may ask questions after each presentation. Panel members
should make known any potential conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, prior to the start of the discussion
of the drug or drug class.
Decisions on the category recommendation(s) is determined by majority verbal vote of aye (in favor) or nay
(oppose). The recommendations approved during the meeting will be presented to the DHHS Secretary for
final approval. The DHHS Secretary has the final approval regarding the PDL recommendations.
Dr. Angela Smith, the NC Medicaid Pharmacy Director, provided an update on the Pharmacy Program.
Information was shared about the Managed Care Launch on July 1, 2021, the PDL and Supplemental Rebate
Program, Annual Report findings, legislative history, and mandates governing the NC Medicaid and NC Health
