Dermatologic Formularies in the Managed Care Setting

Formularies and formulary systems are not a new concept in medical practice. In this country, they have been used in selected settings since the Revolutionary War and formal guidelines were published in 1933. They are in essence a collection of prescribing policies of physicians in a particular practice setting. Formularies are administered by a system in which medical staff members working through a pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee recommend, evaluate, appraise, and select drugs to be included in the medication list. The system also develops, maintains, and enforces policies regarding how restrictive the process will be and what methods will be used to ensure compliance and verify that educational and quality standards are met. 1,2