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OHP Preferred Drug List

Preferred Drug List (PDL)

Search for lists by effective date. Can't find what you're looking for? Use the Searchable PDL to search for drugs by brand or generic name.


Over-the-Counter Drug List

View the over-the-counter (OTC) product classes covered for Oregon Health Plan members not enrolled in a coordinated care organization.



Frequently Asked Questions

Senate Bill 819 (2001) created the Practitioner-Managed Prescription Drug Plan (PMPDP). The PMPDP requires the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) to maintain a list of the most cost-effective drugs to prescribe for fee-for-service members. This list is called the Preferred Drug List (PDL).

Drugs not listed on the PDL are "non-preferred" drugs.

  • Non-preferred physical health drugs require prior authorization (PA).
  • Non-preferred mental health drugs do not require PA.

These groups recommended drugs from selected classes for the PDL:

  • Local doctors
  • Pharmacists
  • Nurse practitioners 
  • Consumers

The Health Resources Commission (HRC) worked with the Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Evidence-Based Policy. Together, they:

  • Gathered clinical data, information from pharmaceutical manufacturers and public testimony. 
  • Evaluated all information according to established evidence methods and in a public forum.

The HRC submitted recommendations to the division for pricing. The division made cost-effective selections, creating the PDL. ​

The PDL identifies the most effective and safe drugs for most patients. Based on the information available:

  • Oregon researchers and experts carefully considered the comparative safety and effectiveness of the drugs recommended for this list. 
  • Of the drugs recommended, only those representing the best value to OHP are on the list.

The PDL is a tool to identify the most cost-effective drugs for open-card OHP patients. OHA asks that when practitioners start a new drug, to consider the drugs on the PDL first. ​

The Searchable PDL is an interactive database. For all active rebateable drugs, it includes:

  • Preferred/non-preferred status
  • Copayment information (if applicable)
  • Prior authorization criteria (if applicable)

You can also search for PDL files by effective date​.

The list is updated periodically. Drug manufacturers who want to propose drugs for PDL consideration can register on the Sovereign States Drug Consortium (SSDC) website to submit offers (see OAR 410-121-0030).​