Carlucci: Prescriber Prevails Restored to State Budget

Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed eliminating prescriber prevails protections in his executive budget.

Prescriber prevails ensure that doctors can make final decisions in prescribing covered medications rather than insurance companies.

“I am pleased that we were able to restore prescriber prevails protections in this year’s budget, and in doing so we have sent a clear message that we cannot substitute cost for care," said State Sen. David Carlucci, Chairman of the Senate Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee.  "In light of a renewed emphasis focused on improving one's mental health, we recognize that mental illnesses are truly unique to each individual.  In the end, we were only as successful as the people who stood behind us all the way through.  This was a collaborative effort that would not have been possible without the assistance of countless advocates who believe that decisions medical decisions should be made by those with an M.D. next to their name.”

Prescriber prevails was restored for atypical antipsychotic drugs, anti-depressants, anti-retroviral, anti-rejection, seizure, epilepsy, endocrine, hematologic and immunologic theraputic drugs.

According to a release from Carlucci's office, in addition to improving the quality of life for patients, appropriate medication also helps lead to fewer emergency room visits and incidents of hospitalization.

Carlucci met with advocates urging Cuomo to restore precriber prevails to the budget in Feb. at the Mental Health Association of Rockland County in Valley Cottage.