Retrospective Drug Utilization
Review Program.
The Retrospective Drug Utilization Review program (RetroDUR) is a collaboration between the New York
State Medicaid Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Program and a clinical pharmacist team from the State
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS). The program
retrospectively reviews the prescribing and dispensing of outpatient prescription medications in order
to ensure that prescriptions are appropriate, medically necessary, and not likely to result in adverse
medical outcomes. The RetroDUR team notifies prescribers and pharmacies if any potential issues are
identified.
In addition to retrospective reviews, the clinical pharmacists from UB SPPS perform outcomes analyses of
RetroDUR interventions to evaluate their effectiveness. The UB SPPS team is also prepared to deliver
medication therapy management to interested parties and the UB SPPS team co-ordinates with NY Department
of Health on provider education initiatives.
Below are examples of RetroDUR
projects and their outcomes:
1. Krajewski M, Desai K, Russak E, Gibson W, Jacobs D: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Mailed
Letter Intervention to Address Potentially Inappropriate Psychiatric Medication Use. Presented at the
annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association, March 2015, San Diego CA (poster)
2. Russak E, Krajewski M, Desai K, Feuerstein S, Jacobs, D: Analysis of an Enhanced Medication Letter
Initiative within a Medicaid Retrospective Drug Utilization Review (RetroDUR) Program. Presented at the
annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association, March 2015, San Diego CA (poster)
3. Krajewski, M. RetroDUR Case Study: Focus on Benzodiazepines Presentation to the New York State Drug
Utilization Review Board. September 12, 2013