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Use of HEOR data in formulary decision-making expected to increase
Individuals involved in formulary decision-making processes at US health plans were surveyed to determine their current and future use of health economic and outcomes research.
Key Points
As allocation of resources becomes more scarce for healthcare, pharmaceuticals in particular are subject to increased scrutiny prior to being made available to health plan members, according to one expert.
"Value, or cost per benefit, need to be determined versus currently available alternatives," said Diana Brixner, PhD, RPh, professor and chair, department of pharmacotherapy and executive director of the Outcomes Research Center at the University of Utah, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Salt Lake City. "Health economics and outcomes research is conducted to produce scientific literature to support these decisions, however, is not always used by the health plan in making access decisions."
Dr Brixner facilitated a survey of individuals involved in formulary decision-making processes at US health plans to determine their current and future use of health economic and outcomes research (HEOR).
Key results included:
The 2 greatest obstacles expected when outcomes data are used in the formulary decision-making process are duration of time to see/evaluate the outcome and unquestionable end points, according to Dr Brixner, who presented this research during the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 2010 Educational Conference in St. Louis.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
