Target Audience

This continuing education program is intended for health-system pharmacists, pharmacy students, practicing physicians, and other healthcare professionals involved in the decision-making process for formulary development.

Program Description

Formulary choices and pharmacy and therapeutics committee functions are becoming increasingly complex as regulators, hospital administrators, and prescribers look more closely at both the process and ramifications of each choice. Increasing scrutiny is being directed not only at the costs of acquiring agents, but also at a broader range of concerns that affect the distribution and use of the agents once they are in the system. These concerns include increased administrative time and process requirements for a given agent and the narrowing of reimbursement guidelines for the potential costs to treat an adverse drug reaction.

Safety and efficacy will always be of the utmost importance. However, as budgets contract and liabilities increase, pharmacists need to take into account concerns from groups such as hospital administration and risk management, regulatory and certification agencies, and the changing healthcare environment that may have significant impact on formulary choices above and beyond acquisition costs. A broader understanding of these concerns and developing strategies to address them will allow pharmacists to better guide institutional choices to efficacious, safe, and cost-effective therapeutics that also reduce regulatory, administrative, and potential liability costs.

Educational Objectives

• Recognize the elements that make up formulary decision making
• Identify recent regulatory interventions that could influence the decision-making process
• Plan changes to the decision-making process, taking into account the factors influencing formulary choices
• Identify therapeutic agents with boxed warnings that may result in increased costs due to regulatory requirements, increased vigilance for adverse events, and the potential costs associated with an adverse event, should one occur
• Use data and examples to develop strategies for reducing costs due to adverse events, as well as administrative and regulatory costs

Americans with Disabilities Act

Event staff will be glad to assist you with any special needs (eg, physical, dietary, etc). Please contact Marilyn Rocks prior to the live event at (732) 356-9266.