Medication errors are among the most common medical errors, harming at least 1.5 million people every year. The extra medical costs of treating drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals alone are at least to $3.5 billion a year, and this estimate does not take into account lost wages and productivity or additional health care costs.
Drug utilization review (DUR) is defined as an authorized, structured, ongoing review of prescribing, dispensing and use of medication. DUR encompasses a drug review against predetermined criteria that results in changes to drug therapy when these criteria are not met.
Disease management is the concept of reducing health care costs and improving quality of life for individuals with chronic conditions by preventing or minimizing the effects of the disease through integrated care. Disease management programs are designed to improve the health of persons with chronic conditions and reduce associated costs from avoidable complications by identifying and treating chronic conditions more quickly and more effectively, thus slowing the progression of those diseases.
Where We Stand: AMCP supports the use of MAC pricing as a managed care tool to encourage the dispensing of cost saving generic drugs and thereby benefiting the overall health care system.
AMCP Format 4.1 includes new sections describing the evidence needs of HCDMs for unapproved products nearing the end of the product development pipeline, as well as unapproved uses of existing products for which FDA approval is being sought.
Population health management (PHM) is a key concept in managed care. Improving population health, enhancing the patient experience, and reducing per capita cost are the primary goals of a philosophy called the Triple Aim. PHM extends beyond healthcare organizations, requiring the cooperation of other types of institutions, such as public health departments and social service entities.
Health plans, employers and government-sponsored health care programs are focusing their attention on optimizing patient outcomes through the use of medications that have established evidence of efficacy and safety, while providing the highest value.
