California Correctional Health Care Services Formulary
Provider Type
- Physicians
- Hospitals
- Ancillary
The California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) Formulary is the approved list of covered medications for patients and youth. Participating providers recommend medications for treatment based on the CCHCS Formulary.
If the patient's or youth's medical condition warrants the use of a medication not listed on the CCHCS Formulary or if there is not an acceptable medication on the formulary, participating providers must:
- Document the reason that the CCHCS Formulary medications are unacceptable.
- Consult with the referring California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) primary care team1 prior to discussing with the CDCR patient2.
- Providers practicing onsite must also follow the CCHCS Formulary.
The CCHCS Formulary is available on the CCHCS website at cchcs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/MS/CCHCS-CDCR-Formulary.pdf.
Providers prescribing non-formulary medications should follow the CCHCS non-formulary approval process.
If justification for non-formulary medication is not provided, then the formulary medication is used. Patients or youths discharged from the hospital with medications not on the CCHCS Formulary are provided a three-day supply of all non-formulary medications and active parenteral (intravenous) nutrition to assure the continuity of care during the transition back to the CCHCS Formulary.
1 CDCR patient includes Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ*) youth.
2 CDCR primary care team includes the Institutional chief physician and surgeon (P&S) and/or the Institutional chief medical executive (CME).
*As of June 30, 2023, all Divisions of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) are closed. Juvenile offenders are no longer committed to the DJJ as of this date. Effective July 1, 2023, claims for health care services rendered to the DJJ youth should be directed to the county where the patient is located. Claims for services rendered on or prior to June 30, 2023, will continue to be the responsibility of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).