{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,12]],"date-time":"2025-10-12T03:32:40Z","timestamp":1760239960967,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":11,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,7]],"date-time":"2019-01-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1546819200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pharmacy"],"abstract":"<jats:p>On 1 December 2016, British Columbia\u2019s (BC) provincial drug insurance program changed which medications in certain classes would benefit under the insurance program in an attempt to reduce expenditure. As part of the modernization, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (Statins), Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCB) were affected. Prescribers and pharmacists had six months to discuss the changes with patients, and change medications if deemed necessary. Purpose: To quantify the changes made to prescriptions and to adjust to the Modernized Reference Drug Program. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at two clinics in Prince George, BC. Charts for patients that were prescribed any drugs in the affected classes were reviewed to determine if, and when, they had been changed, and by which health care professional. In December 2016, a clinical pharmacist, integrated within the study clinics, informed prescribers of the changes, and made patient-specific clinical notes within the charts. The notes described the changes and recommended alternative agents and appropriate dosing in order to assist the prescriber to have a conversation with the patient regarding the switch. Results: Out of 429 unique patients, 233 patients were prescribed a Statin, 229 patients an ACEI, 110 an ARB and, 83 a CCB. Sixty-five drug changes were indicated to reflect the modernization, and with guidance from a clinical pharmacist, nurse practitioners (NPs), and family physicians (FPs), 65% of these identified drugs were switched to reflect the modernization. Community pharmacists made no drug changes in the study sample, despite the prescriptive authority and compensation available to do so. Province-wide, approximately 21% to 33% of affected drugs were switched during the same time-frame. Direct collaboration between a clinical pharmacist, working alongside NPs and FPs, was more successful in optimizing these medications when compared to standard practice, or community pharmacists alone.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmacy7010006","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,11]],"date-time":"2019-01-11T11:36:42Z","timestamp":1547206602000},"page":"6","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Evaluation of Prescription Adaptation Following Changes to A Provincial Drug Insurance Formulary"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Robert T.","family":"Pammett","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Northern Health Authority, Prince George, BC V2L 5B8, Canada"},{"name":"Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Medical Beneficiary and Pharmaceutical Services Division, British Columbia Ministry of Health (2016, June 11). Guide to the Modernized Reference Drug Program, Available online: http:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/health\/health-drug-coverage\/pharmacare\/rdp_guide.pdf."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (2017, August 11). Professional Practice Policy #58-Medication Management (Adapting a Prescription) Orientation Guide. Available online: http:\/\/library.bcpharmacists.org\/6_Resources\/6-2_PPP\/1017-PPP58_OrientationGuide.pdf."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Health, M. (2018, December 24). Of Special Authority\u2014Province of British Columbia, Available online: https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/health\/practitioner-professional-resources\/pharmacare\/prescribers\/special-authority."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"(2018, December 24). Modernized Reference Drug Program Monitoring Report for the Period Ending May 31, 2017, Available online: https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/health\/health-drug-coverage\/pharmacare\/rdpdatareportjan2018.pdf."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Angus Reid Institute (2017, June 25). Prescription Drug Access and Affordability an Issue for Nearly a Quarter of All Canadian Households|Angus Reid Institute. Available online: http:\/\/angusreid.org\/prescription-drugs-canada\/."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.111270","article-title":"The effect of cost on adherence to prescription medications in Canada","volume":"184","author":"Law","year":"2012","journal-title":"CMAJ"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Morgan, S.G., Daw, J.R., and Law, M.R. (2013). Rethinking Pharmacare in Canada, C.D. Howe Institute. Available online: https:\/\/www.cdhowe.org\/sites\/default\/files\/attachments\/research_papers\/mixed\/Commentary_384_0.pdf.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.2303892"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"35","article-title":"Cost-Control Mechanisms in Canadian Private Drug Plans","volume":"9","author":"Kratzer","year":"2013","journal-title":"Healthc. Policy"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"University of British Columbia Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development (2018, December 24). Modernized Reference Drug Program Training Modules (MDRP). Available online: https:\/\/cpd.pharmacy.ubc.ca\/modernized-reference-drug-program-training-modules-mrdp."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sapharm.2015.05.003","article-title":"Identifying relationships between the professional culture of pharmacy, pharmacists\u2019 personality traits, and the provision of advanced pharmacy services","volume":"12","author":"Rosenthal","year":"2016","journal-title":"Res. Soc. Adm. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rosenthal, M., Austin, Z., and Tsuyuki, R.T. (2010). Are Pharmacists the Ultimate Barrier to Pharmacy Practice Change?. Can. Pharm. J. Rev. Pharm. Can.","DOI":"10.3821\/1913-701X-143.1.37"}],"container-title":["Pharmacy"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2226-4787\/7\/1\/6\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T12:23:54Z","timestamp":1760185434000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2226-4787\/7\/1\/6"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,7]]},"references-count":11,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,3]]}},"alternative-id":["pharmacy7010006"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pharmacy7010006","relation":{},"ISSN":["2226-4787"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2226-4787"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,1,7]]}}}