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

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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 § 244 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 § 6802 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 § 365-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 5 of the social services law (referred to in this article as "Medicaid"), the elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage program established by title three of Article 2 of the elder law (referred to in this article as "EPIC"), and the family health plus program established by § 369 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.