Medications and cost

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

In view of the economic problems that every agency is having, is your agency doing anything to reduce medication costs? My agency has begun looking at formulary items in cost order, starting with the medications we spent the most on in the past year. The top two medications (both brand-name antipsychotics) have already been removed from the formulary. They will still be available through non-formulary requests, but physicians will have to follow a protocol and try other less-expensive medications prior to ordering them.

The catalyst for this was apparently the announcement of a substantial price increase by the manufacturer of the medication we spent the most on last year.

[CCHP-RN]

I think all of the medical departments are looking to save money on meds among other things. The best thing you can do is create and LIVE BY a good formulary and only go off formulary in extinuating circumstances.

I went to the NCCHC conference in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and found a great pharmacy system that controls your costs significantlly. I loved it. However, if your doc's continue to order off formulary, it wouldn't help either.

I don't have any affiliation with this company but so far it is the best I've seen in the 13 years I have worked in corrections (no blister packs -dispensing from bulk stock - similar to the use of a pyxis in the hospital). The cost was comparable to what our company spends on blister packs from the regular pharmacy but it cut out all of the extensive paperwork, paper MARs, reordering issues, etc. But again it comes down to formulary management.

If you are interested let me know and I'll share the company contact info with you.