(a) No requirements for prior authorization or other restrictions on medications used to treat mental illnesses may be imposed on medicaid recipients, except on medications subject to guidelines developed by the medicaid drug utilization review board according to subsection (b). None of the following shall be construed as restrictions under this subsection:

(1) Any alert to a pharmacist that does not deny the claim and can be overridden by the pharmacist;

(2) prescriber education activities; or

(3) the consolidation of dosing regimens to equivalent doses.

(b) The mental health medication advisory committee shall provide recommendations to the medicaid drug utilization review board for the purpose of developing guidelines. The medicaid drug utilization review board may accept the recommendations of the mental health medication advisory committee in whole and such recommendations shall take effect immediately upon such approval. The medicaid drug utilization review board may reject the recommendations of the mental health medication advisory committee in whole and such recommendations shall be referred back to the mental health medication advisory committee for further consideration. No medication guidelines related to mental health medications shall be adopted by the medicaid drug utilization review board without recommendations made by the mental health medication advisory committee.

(c) For the medications used to treat mental illness that are available for use on July 1, 2015, the medicaid drug utilization review board shall review all such medications prior to July 1, 2016. For medications used to treat mental illness that do not exist on July 1, 2015, but are later developed or believed to be effective in the treatment of mental illness, the medicaid drug utilization board shall review all such medications within six months of presentation to the medicaid drug utilization review board.

(d) The mental health medication advisory committee is hereby established.

(1) The mental health medication advisory committee shall be appointed by the secretary of health and environment and consist of nine members; including the secretary of health and environment, or the secretary’s designee, who shall be the chair of the committee; two persons licensed to practice medicine and surgery with board certification in psychiatry nominated by the Kansas psychiatric society, one of whom specializes in geriatric mental health; two persons licensed to practice medicine and surgery with board certification in psychiatry nominated by the association of community mental health centers of Kansas, one of whom specializes in pediatric mental health; two pharmacists nominated by the Kansas pharmacists association; one person licensed to practice medicine and surgery nominated by the Kansas medical society; and one advanced practice registered nurse engaged in a role of mental health nominated by the Kansas state nurses association. All nominating bodies shall provide two nominees for each position for which they provide nominations, with the secretary selecting the appointee from the provided nominees.

(2) The mental health medication advisory committee shall meet upon the request of the chair of the mental health medication advisory committee, but shall meet at least one time each quarter.

(3) Members of the mental health medication advisory committee are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-3223, and amendments thereto. Members of the committee attending committee meetings shall be paid mileage and all other applicable expenses, provided such expenses are consistent with policies established by the secretary of health and environment.