DRUG MANAGEMENT: GENERIC VERSUS BRANDED DRUGS, COST EFFECTIVENESS AND OTHER CHALLENGES (4HR)

Course overview

This course is appropriate for all nurses and advanced practice nurses who have responsibility for managing or prescribing medications for select individuals. With health care and drug costs continuing to be high, there is continuing dialogue about the differences between brand name and generic drugs. This course addresses the history of brand versus generic drugs, the many controversies, the science behind the preparation differences, and the cost effectiveness of preventative care when using generic versus brand name drugs. Learning Objectives: •Name at least one generic drug property that must be identical to the brand name product to obtain FDA approval as a generic drug. •Identify two goals of a new drug application. •Characterize one reason why a generic drug could receive an FDA B rating. •Name the biologic drug term analogous to generic drug. •Quantify the portion of health care spending attributed to the cost of medications. •Identify two types of testing required for FDA approval of a biosimilar. •Realize the ratio of lobbying dollars spent by the generic drug industry relative to the brand name industry. •Compare the cost effectiveness of preventive care when using generic versus brand name drugs.