Formulary Management

Drug Use Management

Policy 9909

11/01/1999 Introduced
03/01/2004 Reapproved
12/01/2008 Reapproved
10/01/2012 Reapproved
02/08/2017 Reapproved
02/08/2023 Revised

AMCP recognizes the value of drug use review (DUR) as a means to understand, interpret, evaluate, and improve the prescribing, administration, and use of medications to improve patient outcomes and total cost of care. Using DUR information, managed care pharmacists can identify prescribing trends and initiate corrective action in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders to improve drug therapy for groups of patients, as well as individuals.

 
(See AMCP Concepts in Managed Care Pharmacy – Drug Use Evaluation).

 

Therapeutic Interchange

Policy 9928

11/01/1999 Introduced
03/01/2004 Reapproved
12/01/2008 Reapproved
10/01/2012 Revised
03/25/2019 Revised
02/08/2024 Revised
AMCP supports the use of evidence-based therapeutic interchange programs as a part of a comprehensive approach to quality, cost-effective patient care. AMCP believes that therapeutic interchange may improve the patient's access to more affordable health care and represents an efficient use of pharmaceutical resources that helps keep medical costs down. The therapeutic interchange programs are designed to work in conjunction with other tools that health care professionals use to promote quality medical outcomes, and increase affordability to patients and payers. Therapeutic interchange is not always about simply lowering the medication costs; however, therapeutic interchange frequently occurs when overall health care savings can be achieved. There are instances where replacing one drug with a more costly drug may result in fewer treatment failures, better patient adherence to the treatment plan, fewer side effects, and improved clinical outcomes, which could result in lower overall health care spending.

(See AMCP Where We Stand Position Statement – Therapeutic Interchange)

Development of Quality Performance Measures

Policy 0006

02/01/2000 Introduced
02/01/2005 Revised
11/01/2009 Revised
02/21/2018 Revised
02/08/2023 Revised

 

AMCP recommends the continued development of standardized and reproducible evidence-based quality performance measures that are fair, attainable, meaningful, reproducible, and relevant. AMCP partners with complementary organizations to ensure alignment of all health care stakeholders in the pursuit of measures to improve the quality of patient care.

Patient Adherence and Persistence

Policy 0115

11/01/2001 Introduced
02/01/2006 Revised
12/01/2010 Revised

04/07/2015 Revised

 

AMCP supports programs that encourage patients to adhere to prescribed treatment regimens and continue those regimens (persistence) for maximum therapeutic benefit. Programs should be developed with knowledge of the patient's history, value for the prescribed treatment, and expected positive therapeutic outcome. AMCP believes that the pharmacist, as the medication management professional, has an important role in this process.  Such programs should use comprehensive communications and evidence-based approaches to support patient adherence and persistence.

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