Final answer:
Formulary checking is part of the e-prescribing process, ensuring medications are covered by a patient's health plan and adhering to safety guidelines set by the FDA. It is part of the procedure designed to protect patients and streamline medication dispensing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formulary checking is indeed a part of the e-prescribing process. It refers to the step in electronic prescribing where a clinician verifies that the prescribed medication is approved on the patient's insurance formulary and is thus covered by the patient's health plan. This step is crucial to ensure not only the safety and appropriateness of the medication but also its affordability for the patient.
Formulary checking helps to streamline the prescribing process, potentially reducing the time needed for back-and-forth communication between the pharmacy and the prescriber in case of non-covered prescriptions. The integration of formulary checks into the e-prescribing process helps prevent delays in patient receiving their medication and can lead to increased medication adherence.
The regulation of medicines by authorities like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is intended to protect consumers from unsafe medicines. However, stringent regulations can sometimes lead to delays in bringing beneficial drugs to market, which can be considered a loss to patients who might benefit from early access to new therapies.