California's Department of Industrial Relations will delay the implementation of a drug formulary for the state's workers' compensation system, previously scheduled for July 1, by six months.

In an email, a department spokesperson said more time was needed to prepare providers and injured workers for the proposed regulations based on the oral testimony and written comments submitted to the Division of Workers' Compensation at a May 1 public hearing.

The division decided to move the implementation date to January 2018, while it seeks formal approval of the formulary regulations in the coming weeks.