Managed
Drug Care is a plan that more specifically targets
prescription drug coverage and enables and employer
to share more of the costs with the employees.
Drug costs are controlled because only drugs that
are both medically effective and cost effective are
covered under the plan.
The base
plan of Managed Drug Care is the Provincial Formulary.
The Provincial Formulary is the same plan used by
hospitals as a cost containment measure. These
formularies are developed by a committee of physicians
and pharmacists and are reviewed and updated regularly.
A formulary seeks to contain costs by substituting
brand name drugs for a less expensive drug of similar
therapeutic value. This may mean prescribing
tablets instead of capsules or a non-timed release
formula instead of a timed-release formula as examples.
If a formulary is to restrictive, “wrap around” plans
are also available for more comprehensive coverage.