Effective July 10, 2005, BWC will have a preferred drug program as part of the outpatient medication prior authorization program. Some medications in the following categories will require prior authorization for BWC to cover them:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Cox-2 inhibitors;
• Skeletal muscle relaxants;
• Opioid analgesics.

BWC encourages physicians to use medications preferred by BWC. If physicians believe it's medically necessary to prescribe a medication on the non-preferred drug list, BWC requires the Request for Prior Authorization of Non-Preferred Medication (MEDCO-32). Fax the completed MEDCO-32 and the documentation supporting medical necessity to the number located at the bottom of the form for processing by BWC’s pharmacy benefits manager.

Whenever prior authorization is requested, BWC will require information from the physician stating why the specific drug is medically necessary. If BWC is able to determine that the injured worker meets specific requirements for receiving non-preferred medications, we will authorize it. In most cases, for NSAIDs and Cox-2 medications, physicians may indicate on the prescription why the drug is medically necessary and the pharmacy will be able to obtain authorization at the point of service.

Click here to download BWC's non-preferred drug list.
Click here to download BWC's preferred drug list.

Click here to download the Request for Prior Authorization of Non-Preferred Medication (MEDCO-32), or call BWC's Pharmacy Benefit Manager, ACS State Healthcare, at 1-800-OHIOBWC, and follow the prompts.