§ 270. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context
clearly requires otherwise:

1. "Administrator" means an entity with which the commissioner
contracts for the purpose of administering elements of the preferred
drug program, as established under section two hundred seventy-two of
this article or the clinical drug review program established under
section two hundred seventy-four of this article.

2. "Board" shall mean the drug utilization review board.

3. "Clinical drug review program" means the clinical drug review
program created by section two hundred seventy-four of this article.

4. "Emergency condition" means a medical or behavioral condition as
determined by the prescriber or pharmacists, the onset of which is
sudden, that manifests itself by symptoms of sufficient severity,
including severe pain, and for which delay in beginning treatment
prescribed by the patient's health care practitioner would result in:

(a) placing the health or safety of the person afflicted with such
condition or other person or persons in serious jeopardy;

(b) serious impairment to such person's bodily functions;

(c) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part of such person;

(d) serious disfigurement of such person; or

(e) severe discomfort.

5. "Non preferred drug" means a prescription drug that is included in
the preferred drug program and is not one of the drugs on the preferred
drug list because it is either: (a) in a therapeutic class that is
included in the preferred drug program and is not one of the drugs on
the preferred drug list in that class or (b) manufactured by a
pharmaceutical manufacturer with whom the commissioner is negotiating or
has negotiated a manufacturer agreement and is not a preferred drug
under a manufacturer agreement.

6. "Panel" means the elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage panel
established pursuant to section two hundred forty-four of the elder law.

7. "Preferred drug" means a prescription drug that is either (a) in a
therapeutic class that is included in the preferred drug program and is
one of the drugs on the preferred drug list in that class or (b) a
preferred drug under a manufacturer agreement.

8. "Preferred drug program" means the preferred drug program
established under section two hundred seventy-two of this article.

9. "Prescription drug" or "drug" means a drug defined in subdivision
seven of section sixty-eight hundred two of the education law, for which
a prescription is required under the federal food, drug and cosmetic
act. Any drug that does not require a prescription under such act, but
which would otherwise meet the criteria under this article for inclusion
on the preferred drug list may be added to the preferred drug list under
this article; and, if so included, shall be considered to be a
prescription drug for purposes of this article; provided that it shall
be eligible for reimbursement under a state public health plan when
ordered by a prescriber authorized to prescribe under the state public
health plan and the prescription is subject to the applicable provisions
of this article and paragraph (a) of subdivision four of section three
hundred sixty-five-a of the social services law.

10. "Prior authorization" means a process requiring the prescriber or
the dispenser to verify with the applicable state public health plan or
its authorized agent that the drug is appropriate for the needs of the
specific patient.

11. "State public health plan" means the medical assistance program
established by title eleven of article five of the social services law
(referred to in this article as "Medicaid"), the elderly pharmaceutical
insurance coverage program established by title three of article two of
the elder law (referred to in this article as "EPIC"), and the family
health plus program established by section three hundred sixty-nine-ee
of the social services law to the extent that section provides that the
program shall be subject to this article.

12. "Supplemental rebate" means a supplemental rebate under
subdivision eleven of section two hundred seventy-two of this article.

13. "Therapeutic class" means a group of prescription drugs that
produce a particular intended clinical outcome and are grouped together
as a therapeutic class by the pharmacy and therapeutics committee.

14. "Manufacturer agreement" means an agreement between the
commissioner and a pharmaceutical manufacturer under paragraph (b) of
subdivision eleven of section two hundred seventy-two of this article.