Management team focusing on formulary

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The federal management team appointed to the Department of Mental Health is looking to improve operations at the formulary, which has been described by the team as being in "disarray".  Attorney James Casey says they're not only looking to save money, but ensure consumers don't suffer by having substituted medication.

Mental Health's formulary currently serves more than 1,400 outpatient consumers and dozens others in group homes.  The agency deals with five local pharmacies, but Casey says the government isn't getting its money's worth.  The team is now looking to work directly with Health and Human Services Supply Center based out of Perry Point, Maryland.

"By dealing directly with them we can get bulk discount rate we're not running short of meds which has been problematic with these local pharmacies and the difference that I just cited with respect to the prices," said Casey, "as opposed to $18 for a pill we'd pay $2.40 through Perry Point."

Casey adds that by going through a pharmaceutical company, running short on meds for consumers or having to substitute medications will no longer be a problem.