Questão jurídica principal
Whether a cost-coverage request for drug therapy must be filed in writing before treatment begins.
Decisão extraída
A prior request is required, but it need not be a final administrative decision; however, the request must be sufficiently documented and submitted in a form that allows the municipality to assess the planned expenses. A mere telephone notice is insufficient.
Fundamentação extraída
The purpose of the request is to inform the municipality about the intended expenditure and allow it to comment and influence the decision. That purpose is only met if the request is written and contains information on the type, duration, and cost of the therapy, ideally with supporting documentation. The telephone inquiry in this case did not meet that minimum threshold.