Prior authorization and exception to coverage - Employer Group

A prescriber must fill out a Standard California PA form for a member to get a drug that is not on the formulary. The form will be reviewed by a pharmacist and/or a physician and approval will be based on established medical criteria and/or medical necessity. 

A list of formulary drugs and medical criteria are available on the VHP Providers Pharmacy page or by calling VHP Member Services at 1 (888) 421-8444 (toll-free).

The prescriber must completely fill out the Standard California PA form with information that supports the request for a drug not on formulary and submit to the PBM. The form will be reviewed and approved based on established medical criteria and/or medical necessity and the member and provider will receive communication with the decision.

• The Standard California PA form request will be turned around within 72 hours for nonurgent requests, and within 24 hours if exigent circumstances exist, upon receipt of a completed Standard California Prior Authorization request from a prescribing provider.
• ​Exigent circumstances” exist when an enrollee is suffering from a health condition that may seriously jeopardize the enrollee’s life, health, or ability to regain maximum function or when an enrollee is undergoing a current course of treatment using a nonformulary drug.