If we remove drugs from our formulary, or add prior authorization, quantity limits and/or step therapy restrictions on a drug or move a drug to a higher cost-sharing tier, we must notify affected members of the change (30 days for employer coverage and GHP Family; 60 days for other plans) before the change becomes effective, or at the time the member requests a refill of the drug.

If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems a drug on our formulary to be unsafe or the drug’s manufacturer removes the drug from the market, we will immediately remove the drug from our formulary and provide notice to members who take the drug.

Prescription drug recalls

Geisinger Health Plan promptly identifies and notifies members and their prescribing physicians when the FDA  notifies us of a Class I or Class II drug recall. We send notifications to members who received the recalled medication using their pharmacy benefits.

Class I recall
This type of recall is in cases where there is a reasonable probability that use of, or exposure to, the medication will cause serious adverse health effects or death.

Class II recall
With this class of recall, a medication has been found to cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or in remote cases, serious adverse health effects.

The FDA website provides news about recent drug recalls, updates on market withdrawals of medications and safety alerts.