Patent ID: 7765110

Claim:
A method executed by a computer processor for providing restricted access to a generic drug by a medical therapy provider comprising: a pharmacy receiving a prescription for a patient for a branded restricted distribution drug prescribed by a physician, wherein the prescription has been previously approved for fulfillment, and wherein a branded restricted distribution drug is a drug that requires compliance with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved risk management program; the pharmacy determining that a generic drug is available as a substitute for the branded restricted distribution drug; the pharmacy contacting a manufacturer of a generic drug available as a substitute for the branded distribution drug; the generic drug manufacturer: determining the eligibility of the patient for the generic drug in compliance with an FDA-approved drug risk management program for the generic drug; obtaining approval, if necessary, from the prescribing physician to substitute the generic drug for the branded distribution drug; authorizing the fulfillment of the generic drug to the patient only after determining that the patient is eligible and, if necessary, after obtaining the approval from the prescribing physician to substitute the generic drug for the branded restricted distribution drug, wherein the fulfillment may be provided by one of: the pharmacy, the prescribing physician, the generic drug manufacturer, or a distributor, and wherein the distribution of the generic drug is not authorized if the patient is determined to be ineligible; after authorizing the fulfillment of the generic drug to the patient, recording data associated with the patient, the eligibility determination of the patient for the generic drug, and the fulfillment of the generic drug in a computer-readable medium; and wherein the authorizing the fulfillment of the generic drug to the patient does not comprise: the generic drug manufacturer or distributor generating a prescription approval code prior to fulfillment of the prescription; or requiring the patient, the pharmacy, or the prescribing physician to be registered with the generic drug manufacturer or distributor prior to the fulfillment of the prescription.