VA drug formulary
Subtitle: drug review process is standardized at the national level, but actions are needed to ensure timely adjudication of nonformulary drug requests : report to congressional addressees
Contributors: Dicken, John E.
Publisher: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Washington, D.C.]
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 36
Subjects: Rules and practice; Evaluation; Drugs; Prescribing; Drug utilization; Government policy; Medicine; Formulae, receipts, prescriptions; Veterans; Medical care; United States. Department of Veterans Affairs; United States
Other titles: Department of Veterans Affairs drug formulary :; Drug review process is standardized at the national level, but actions are needed to ensure timely adjudication of nonformulary drug requests
Description: In 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spent nearly $4 billion on prescriptions for veterans. In general, VA provides drugs on its national formulary. However, all VA medical centers must have a nonformulary drug request process that is overseen by their regional Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). This report responds to a House Committee on Appropriations report directing GAO to review VA's formulary process and to an additional congressional request. Specifically, GAO reviewed (1) the process VA uses to review drugs for its national formulary, (2) the approaches VISNs and medical centers take to implementing the nonformulary drug request process, (3) the extent to which VA ensures the timely adjudication of nonformulary drug requests, and (4) the mechanisms VA has in place to obtain beneficiary input on the national formulary and make the drug review process transparent. GAO reviewed VA policy guidance and VA's pharmacy-related information technology (IT) initiatives, analyzed 2008 and 2009 drug review data and 2009 nonformulary drug request data, and interviewed VA officials from the national level, each VISN, and a judgmental sample of four medical centers. GAO recommends that VA establish additional mechanisms to ensure nonformulary drug requests are adjudicated in a timely fashion. VA concurred with this recommendation.
Notes: Title from cover screen (GAO, viewed Sept. 1, 2010).

"August 2010."

"GAO-10-776."

Includes bibliographical references.

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Mode of access: World Wide Web.