It is the intent of the Legislature to provide medical assistance, including prescribed drugs, to the state’s eligible poor in a manner consistent with the provisions of the federal Medicaid Act, provided for under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.). It is the further intent of the Legislature to test the effectiveness of an open formulary drug therapy program. In order to help achieve this goal, the Legislature hereby establishes an open drug formulary under the Medi-Cal program wherein a beneficiary may receive the most appropriate, most effective, and most cost-efficient drug available for the treatment of his or her

illness. It is also the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to establish a drug utilization review system which will evaluate and enhance the therapeutic outcome of drugs prescribed for persons eligible for Medi-Cal pursuant to this chapter.