title: The Department of Defense pharmacy benefit management program.
abstract: Prescription drug prices are frequently both politically and personally salient issues. The Department of Defense (DoD) offers a robust prescription benefit to 8.8 million beneficiaries. This benefit has evolved to meet changes in technology and patient requirements. The PharmacoEconomic Center (PEC) was established as the first pharmacy benefit manager entity in 1992, primarily in response to rapidly rising DoD pharmacy program expenditures. In its short history, the PEC has dramatically improved patient safety and decreased costs. To accelerate the efficiency and effectiveness the enterprise-wide pharmacy benefit manager has already achieved, DoD should increase the funding, staff, and authority of the PEC.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Health Care Administration, U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, 3151 Scott Road, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6135, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ridderhoff
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Remund
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States; D037041:United States Government Agencies