GAO Report on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Drug Formulary Process
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report entitled "VA Drug Formulary: Drug Review Process Is Standardized at the National Level, but Actions Are Needed to Ensure Timely Adjudication of Nonformulary Drug Requests." According to the GAO, regional Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) and medical centers vary in how they implement the nonformulary drug request process, including how they: adjudicate such requests; collect and report required data to VA’s pharmacy benefit manager; and address appeals of denied requests. Moreover, while nonformulary drug requests must be adjudicated within 96 hours, this deadline is not always met. The GAO also reports that VA officials are considering options for increasing beneficiary input on the national formulary and improving the transparency of the drug review process. The GAO recommends that VA establish additional mechanisms to ensure nonformulary drug requests are adjudicated in a timely fashion; the VA concurred.
