The Pharmacoeconomics Program Manager is responsible for all pharmacoeconomic program development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. Pharmacoeconomic analysis shall focus on: pharmaceutical formulary selection; formulary implementation and usage monitoring; medication conversions; drug utilization evaluations, therapy treatment and pathway development and assessment; patient health outcomes; health-related quality of life assessments, medical education, and information communication.

Duties

FUNCTIONS: A. Pharmacoeconomics Program Responsibilities Develops, implements, and manages programs to optimize drug therapy costs, including participation in the development of disease management programs. Designs and assists in the coordination of cost-effective alternatives and medication conversions to address shortages and cost containment initiatives. Interfaces with internal and external customers to identify, develop and implement appropriate cost containment monitoring opportunities and outcomes research activities. Designs and coordinates the implementation of pharmacoeconomic decision analysis tools, including the development of outcome instruments (quantitative and qualitative) for quality assurance/utilization review. Designs and develops spreadsheet and database analysis programs that support definitive study outcome documentation. Designs, completes, and reports local, VISN, or national medication utilization evaluations. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Reviews Prior-Authorization Drug Requests (PADRs) consistently to assure completion within 96 hours in accordance with VA guidelines. Monitors provider specific information related to cost, usage, and formulary adherence and provides reports upon request. This includes performing data extraction via sequel server and Pyramid Analytics. Tracks non-formulary and restricted drug use and provides quarterly reports. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. Manages the hospital formulary and ensures its appropriate utilization by health care providers. Reviews high-cost drug reports regularly and takes corrective actions prior to the end of the month. Reviews trends and provides reports to supervisor. Assures VISN and national performance measures are met through careful planning and identification of cost-saving initiatives and attention focused on the Lost Opportunity Costs, Costs/Patient/Quarter compared to other sites, Tablet splitting utilization, Tablet optimization utilization, and overall calculated cost avoidance. Assists in the design and development of tools and mechanisms to document the outcome(s) and value associated with clinical pharmacy interventions and pharmacoeconomic activities. Assists with the development of appropriate tracking, trending, and report processes for individual patients and groups of patients. Data and trends are provided through quality improvement processes and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, as appropriate. Serves as subject matter expert and advisor to the Office of the Chief for matters pertaining to drug formulary management. Actively participates in the P&T Committee and is responsible for organizing meetings, agenda, minutes and reports for the committee. B. Program Management Effectively develops, implements, and manages programs to decrease drug therapy costs and improve prescribing practices with the Medical Center, including participation in the development of disease management programs. Coordinates pharmacoeconomic information and provides appropriate recommendations and/or action plans relating to pharmacoeconomic issues to the local, VISN, and national level advisory committees, work groups and/or task forces. Assists in the development and implementation of the Medical Center, VISN and national formularies to make sure that the most effective and safest drugs are made available for use in patient care at the lowest overall health care system cost. Performs/provides instruction regarding patient medication profile reviews that include, but are not limited to, an assessment of patients for stability of disease state, medication compliance, rational drug therapeutics, adverse drug effect detection/management while making appropriate cost-effective clinical decisions. Recommendations regarding appropriateness of medication regimens are conveyed to appropriate medical staff. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Rotating Schedule to include nights, weekends, and holidays Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: (1) Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) [TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). [YOU MUST SUBMIT COPY OF FPGEC CERTIFICATION WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE]. Licensure. Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16. Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred Experience: The Pharmacoeconomics Program Manager (PPM) must be a licensed pharmacist with current Scope of Practice and understanding of the goals, objectives, and performance measures associated with the development, maintenance, and improvement of Pharmacoeconomic programs. Advanced degree (Pharm.D., M.S., MBA, MPH), PGY1/PGY2 Pharmacy Practice Residency, clinical pharmacy experience are preferred. The PPM is responsible for formulary management, drug use utilization, shortages, recalls, drug cost and outcomes optimization, development and maintenance of databases and Sharepoint as well as administrative operations of the PE programs. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Facility Program Manager. Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs. Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities. The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs : a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standards, dated June 7, 2012. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 . Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary. Typically, the Pharmacist sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small pieces of equipment and supplies, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Las Vegas VA Medical Center 6900 North Pecos Road North Las Vegas, NV 89086 US
• Name: Lizbeth Torres
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X24760
• Email: [email protected]