DUR: Educational Articles Archive
The purpose of this educational intervention component of DUR is to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of prescribing and dispensing practices for Medi-Cal recipients. Educational interventions include ongoing dissemination of information through the Medi-Cal provider bulletin process about clinically important, drug-specific therapy problems.
Use of Inhaled Long Acting
Beta2-Agonists in the Medi-Cal Fee-For-Service (FFS)
Population – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new warnings for all
products containing long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs).
December 2005
FDA Warnings of Suicidal Behavior in Children Taking Antidepressants or Atomoxetine – Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diagnoses for adults in the United States. Approximately 5 percent of adults self-report an episode each year and up to 90 percent of these people seek medical attention.
December 2005
Appropriate Drug Billing Unit
Standards for Medi-Cal – Each time a drug is billed to Medi-Cal, the claim must state how much of the drug was provided.
November 2005
Prospective Drug Utilization
Review: Early Refill Alerts – Early refill or over-utilization interventions are intended to protect patients from adverse events associated with using a prescribed medication beyond the recommended dose.
December 2004
Influenza 2004-2005 – The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recently issued recommendations on the prevention and control of influenza for the
2004-2005 influenza season.
October 2004
Legislative Update: SB 151 New
Prescription Requirements – Senate Bill (SB) 151 enacted a
number of changes concerning the prescription of controlled
substances.
June 2004
Long-Acting Opioids for
Chronic Pain – Effective management of chronic pain has
become an increasingly critical issue in health care.
June 2004
Alliance Working for
Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) – The Medi-Cal Drug
Use Review (DUR) program is actively involved in developing and
supporting educational efforts to describe best practices in
drug therapy.
April 2004
The Drug-Drug Interaction
Alert: A Better Understanding – The Medi-Cal Drug Use Review
(DUR) program oversees the electronic alerts sent to pharmacy
providers when a Medi-Cal drug claim processed through the Point
of Service system interacts with certain clinical indicators.
May 2003
Atypical Antipsychotic
Educational Project DUR Update – The Medi-Cal Drug Use
Review (DUR) Board and the California Department of Health
Services (DHCS) have been leading a collaboration of
professionals for the past three years in reviewing prescribing
patterns of atypical antipsychotics in the Medi-Cal population.
December 2002
DUR and the Pharmacist – Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service Drug Use Review (DUR) is a dynamic
program that optimizes medical and pharmaceutical care for
recipients while reducing the cost of care.
June 2002
Influenza 2000-2001 – Viral influenza infections continue to be responsible for
significant morbidity and mortality worldwide.
October 2000
Influenza 1999-2000 – Viral influenza infections are responsible for significant
morbidity and mortality worldwide.
January 2000
DUR Drug Interaction Update – Medi-Cal supports a Drug-Drug interaction system that sends an
online alert to a pharmacist entering a certain drug that
interacts with another drug on the recipient’s profile.
January 2000
Cyclosporin: Oral Formulations – Cyclosporine is a cyclic polypeptide immunosuppressant used in
allogenic transplants of the skin, heart, kidneys, pancreas,
bone marrow, small intestine, liver and lungs.
June 1999