Prescription drug formulary systems in nursing home facilities

A medical director of a nursing home facility, as defined in section 19a-521, may establish protocols for a prescription drug formulary system in accordance with guidelines established by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and any applicable collaborative drug therapy management agreement or collaborative drug therapy management policy, as defined in section 20-631. The medical director of a nursing home facility that implements a prescription drug formulary system may make a substitution for a drug prescribed to a patient of the facility in accordance with the provisions of this section. Prior to making any substitution for a drug prescribed to a patient of the facility in accordance with the facility's protocols, the medical director, or the medical director's designee, shall notify the prescribing practitioner of the medical director's intention to make such substitution. If the prescribing practitioner does not authorize the medical director or the medical director's designee to make such substitution or objects to such substitution, the medical director, or the medical director's designee, shall not make the substitution. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a facility, when administering prescription drugs to a patient who receives benefits under a medical assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services, shall consider and administer prescription drugs to such patient in accordance with (1) the department's preferred drug list, developed in accordance with section 17b-274d, (2) prescription drug formularies under Medicare Part D, or (3) the patient's health insurance policy, as the medical director of the nursing home facility deems appropriate.