Advancing Evidence-Based Prescribing to Improve Health Care

Pharmaceutical sales representatives are paid on commission to get prescribers to write prescriptions for their products. In contrast, an emerging state-funded model for prescriber education offers office visits by independent, highly-trained clinicians who provide objective, evidence-based information on commonly prescribed drugs. These programs are typically run through a partnership with an academic institution or other non-profit, outside the influence of industry dollars. This presentation will detail ongoing efforts at prescriber education in the states as well as provide an update on federal investments in this approach through comparative effectiveness research dollars. Efforts to engage consumers in advocating for evidence-based prescriptions, as a counter to the ubiquitous presence of direct-to-consumer drug advertising, will also be discussed.