Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7430

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Publication type: Journal Article

Cross M.
Satisfying the P and T committee's need for more evidence.
Manag Care 2006 Oct; 15:(10):22-4,
http://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/0610/0610.ptinfo.html

Abstract:

The two dozen medical professionals who make up the pharmacy and therapeutics committee for the Hawaii Medical Service Association are striving to make formulary decisions based on the best evidence available. And like all health plans, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield affiliate is doing everything it can to supply its committee with information on new drugs and others that are scheduled for review.

Today, that means contracting with an outside organization for comprehensive summaries of the research that has been done on specific drugs, says Kris Tsutomi, chair of the P&T committee and a clinical pharmacist employed by the Hawaii Medical Service Association. Earlier this year, the three pharmacists at the 600,000-member health plan had been compiling their own reports, but they found the effort overwhelming, especially as the P&T committee became more focused on evidence, Tsutomi explains…

Notes:

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