A recently nixed prescription drug purchase plan designed to abate rising state Medicaid costs will likely be resurrected during the 2006 legislative session.

Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, has opened a bill file to revive the creation of a "preferred drug list," or PDL, which the Utah Department of Health estimates will save the state between $4 million and $5 million a year in prescription drug costs.

Last month, the Executive Appropriations Committee denied a health department request to run a test program on just two classes of drugs. The failed effort is the second time the health department has tried to shore up legislative support for a PDL in Utah.

Both times, the move died in the Legislature's head budget committee — an inappropriate place for such decisions to be made, Mascaro said Friday.

The Appropriations Committee should focus primarily on fiscal issues, he said, not matters of widespread public policy.

"In my mind . . . they established a legislative policy with that decision, and I think policy should be reserved for the full Legislature," Mascaro said. "We now have the opportunity and the absolute responsibility to bring this forward during the full session."

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has backed the creation of a PDL in Utah. Although his office was unaware Friday of Mascaro's proposal, spokeswoman Tammy Kikuchi said the governor continues to be "very supportive of the prescription drug list plan, so if it can be done some way, I'm sure that that would be beneficial." Kikuchi said the governor continues to support the plan.

"We appreciate the support of Representative Mascaro and agree there is a need for PDLs. We will continue to work with the legislature to answer any of their concerns," she said. "PDLs are a good way to save money for the state and at the same time benefit patients."

Advocates for the poor, disabled and elderly have also supported the plan — which would limit the prescription medications Medicaid patients could receive to those on a predetermined list. Health department director Dr. David Sundwall told lawmakers in June that the registry would ideally encourage doctors to prescribe medications that often have been around for a while but are as effective as the new and usually more expensive ones.

News of Mascaro's plan was well-received Friday when he announced his intentions at the monthly meeting of Utah Issues, the state's leading poverty research and advocacy group. "We'll be right behind you," promised policy analyst Judi Hilman.