Section 5024.5 - Utilization and treatment protocols for select medication categories(a) The Department of Corrections shall adopt policies, procedures, and criteria to identify selected medication categories for the development of utilization protocols based on best practices, and the use of generic and therapeutic substitutes, as appropriate. (b) The department shall develop utilization and treatment protocols for select medication categories based on defined priority criteria, including, but not limited to, the cost of the medications. (c) On or before April 1, 2006, the department shall provide information, as part of the fiscal committee budget hearings for the 2006-07 budget year, on the impact of the adoption of these protocols. (d) The department shall coordinate the implementation of this section with the Department of General Services' prescription drug bulk purchasing program pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 14977) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, in order to better achieve the goals and intent of that program. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department shall complete the implementation of this section utilizing the existing resources of the department.Added by Stats 2004 ch 383 (SB 1426), s 1, eff. 1/1/2005.