Kitzhaber's drug list would limit choices.(Brief Article)

In a move to contain prescription drug costs, Gov. John Kitzhaber's office is exploring a statewide list of recommended prescription drugs that all doctors and pharmacists would follow.

Last week, the governor's office asked the state Health Resources Commission to study ways to cut the cost of drugs, including the voluntary formulary, and provide its recommendations to the Oregon Health Council by July 1.

It is the first effort by state political leaders to curtail increasing drug costs and the resulting 10 percent to 20 percent boost in insurance premiums since the Oregon Medical Association's delegates voted for such reform last November. In his annual State of the State speech, Kitzhaber called for public hearings and developing health care reform legislation to present to the 2001 legislature.

"Everybody is looking for an answer to the question of how to contain growing pharmaceutical costs," said Dan Harris, a consultant on the project. "We're looking at options for making health care affordable to everyone in the state. One piece of that is containing expenditures on …