TY  - JOUR
T1  - Systems-level interventions to improve value in prescription medication use: Comment on “physician acquiescence to patient demands for brand-name drugs”
AU  - O’Malley PG
Y1  - 2013/02/11
N1  - 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.3583
JO  - JAMA Internal Medicine
SP  - 239
EP  - 239
VL  - 173
IS  - 3
N2  - 
There is immense excess cost associated with using brand-name drugs when equally efficacious generics are available. For unclear reasons, a large proportion of physicians are reluctant to opt for the more cost-effective choices, especially if patients request brand-name drugs. Campbell et al find that social factors appear to influence medication decisions. Such situations call for systems-level interventions to overcome the irrational cultural practices. In this case, large, closed health systems with pharmacy benefits and managed formularies use pharmacy-level decision making on drugs, once the physician has made the decision on the appropriateness of the medication. These systems also allow for physician override when appropriate. Such systems-level interventions have immense potential to increase value in prescription medication use.

SN  - 2168-6106
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.3583
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.3583
ER  -