Pharmacy Law Practice Exam

What is the role of the DUR board in retrospective review?

1. To conduct thorough patient interviews

2. To review claims and duplicative therapy

3. To provide education directly to patients

4. To initiate disciplinary actions against pharmacies

The correct answer is: To review claims and duplicative therapy

The role of the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) board in retrospective review primarily involves evaluating and analyzing prescription claims data for patterns that may indicate inappropriate medication use. This analysis includes reviewing claims to identify duplicative therapy, which is when a patient is prescribed multiple medications that provide the same therapeutic benefit, potentially leading to adverse effects or unnecessary costs. By focusing on claims and reviewing them for duplicative therapies, the DUR board ensures that patients receive safe and effective medication management. This activity forms a vital part of the overall medication therapy management process, allowing for the identification of issues that can be addressed through further actions like provider education or adjustments in prescribing practices. The other options do not align with the DUR board's key functions in the retrospective review process, which center around data analysis and ensuring optimal patient therapy through examining medication use patterns.