Pharmacoeconomics in Healthcare: More Than Dollars
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Pharmacoeconomics is a relatively new subset of economics in which researchers measure and value the outcomes of different healthcare interventions, including medications, medical procedures, medical devices, and many others. However, valuing healthcare interventions via pharmacoeconomic studies is not sufficient for real-world application and is typically combined with outcomes research. Outcomes from pharmacoeconomic research affect nearly every part of the pharmaceutical industry. The increasing national drug expenditure highlights the importance of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and rising healthcare costs year-over-year. This course discusses the four main analysis tools used to evaluate the cost and outcomes of medical interventions. After reviewing this CE, pharmacists and staff will be able to identify how they currently use the basics of pharmacoeconomics in their daily practice, improve their foundational understanding of pharmacoeconomics, and apply some of these evaluation methods to improve patient care.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Define pharmacoeconomics
- Explain how pharmacoeconomics is used in healthcare
- Differentiate analytical tools used in pharmacoeconomics
- Review the clinical effects of weighing the costs, benefits, and harms of healthcare interventions
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Defining Pharmacoeconomics
III. Why Pharmacoeconomics is Important
IV. A Brief History of Pharmacoeconomics
V. The Importance of Pharmacoeconomic Research
1. National Drug Expenditure
2. Disease-specific Expenditure Example
VI. Analytical Tools Used in Pharmacoeconomics
1. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
2. Cost-Utility Analysis
3. What is a QALY?
4. Cost-Benefit Analysis
5. Cost-Minimization Analysis
6. Determining Cost Parameters
VII. Applying HEOR in Practice
Clinical Efficacy vs. Drug Cost
VIII. Formulary Management and Study Perspectives
1. Formulary Management
2. Study Perspectives
IX. Pharmacist-led Case Examples
1. Community Pharmacist Example
2. Hospital Pharmacist Example
X. The Future of Pharmacoeconomics
XI. Summary
From October 3, 2023 through October 3, 2026, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Angel A. Rodriguez, PharmD, BCACP, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".