(a) (1) In the event the department determines a drug should be deleted from the list of contract drugs, the department shall conduct a public hearing, as provided in this section, to receive comment on the impact of removing the drug.
(2) (A) The department shall provide written notice 30 days prior to the hearing.
(B) The department shall send the notice required by this subdivision to the manufacturer of the drug proposed to be deleted and to organizations representing Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
(b) (1) The hearing panel shall consist of the Chief, Medi-Cal Drug Discount Program, who shall serve as chair, and the Medi-Cal Contract Drug Advisory Committee.
(2) The hearing shall be recorded and transcribed, and the transcript available for public review.
(3) Subsequent to hearing all public comment, and within 30 days of the hearing, each panel member shall submit a recommendation regarding deletion of the drug and the reason for the recommendation to the director.
(c) The director shall consider public comments provided at the hearing and the recommendations of each panel member in determining whether to delete the drug.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1161, Sec. 62. Effective September 30, 2002.)