108A-68.2. Beneficiary lock-in program for certain controlled substances.

(a) As used in this section, "covered substances" means any controlled substance identified as an opioid or benzodiazepine, excluding benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics, contained in Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, unless one of the following conditions are met:

(1) If the Department of Health and Human Services specifically identifies the opioid or benzodiazepine as a substance excluded from coverage by the Medicaid Beneficiary Management Lock-In Program described in its Outpatient Pharmacy Clinical Coverage Policy adopted in accordance with G.S. 108A-54.2, then the opioid or benzodiazepine is not a covered substance under this section.

(2) If the Department of Health and Human Services specifically identifies a controlled substance contained in Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes other than an opioid or benzodiazepine as a controlled substance covered by the Medicaid Beneficiary Management Lock-In Program described in its Outpatient Pharmacy Clinical Coverage Policy adopted in accordance with G.S. 108A-54.2, then the controlled substance is a covered substance under this section.

(b) As used in this section, "lock-in program" means a requirement that a Medicaid or NC Health Choice beneficiary select a single prescriber and a single pharmacy for obtaining covered substances.

(c) As used in this section, "Prepaid Health Plan" or "PHP" means an entity holding a PHP license under Article 93 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes.

(d) This section does not apply to any lock-in program for Medicaid or NC Health Choice beneficiaries who are not enrolled in a Prepaid Health Plan.

(e) A Prepaid Health Plan may develop a lock-in program for Medicaid or NC Health Choice beneficiaries who meet any of the following criteria:

(1) Have filled six or more prescriptions for covered substances in a period of two consecutive months.

(2) Have received prescriptions for covered substances from three or more providers in a period of two consecutive months.

(3) Are recommended as a candidate for the lock-in program by a provider.

(f) A lock-in program developed pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall comply with all of the following:

(1) A beneficiary shall not be subject to the lock-in program until the Prepaid Health Plan has notified the beneficiary in writing that the beneficiary will be subject to the lock-in program.

(2) A beneficiary subject to the lock-in program shall be given the opportunity to select a single prescriber and a single pharmacy from a list of prescribers and pharmacies in the Prepaid Health Plan's provider network. For any beneficiary who fails to select a single prescriber, the Prepaid Health Plan shall use algorithmic guidelines to assign the beneficiary a single prescriber from a list of prescribers in the Prepaid Health Plan's network. For any beneficiary who fails to select a single pharmacy, the Prepaid Health Plan shall use algorithmic guidelines to assign the beneficiary a single pharmacy from a list of pharmacies in the Prepaid Health Plan's network.

(3) A beneficiary shall not be required to use the single prescriber or single pharmacy selected for the lock-in program to obtain prescriptions drugs covered by the Medicaid program or the Prepaid Health Plan that are not covered substances.

(g) A Prepaid Health Plan's use of a lock-in program developed pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall not constitute a violation of the terms of a contract between the Prepaid Health Plan and the Department that relate to a beneficiary's ability to utilize a pharmacy of choice.