Forecasting the issues for managed care pharmacy

This column focuses oil issues of particular interest to pharmacists who practice in health maintenance organizations and other managed care settings. Other readers should also find the material of interest. Included are information and advice related to managed care pharmacy practice and the use of pharmaceuticals in enrolled patient populations. Topics addressed include disease management, unique pharmacist roles in managed care, capitation, and the ambulatory care component of integrated health systems. Renders currently practicing in managed care settings are invited to submit questions for the column. Questions should be narrow in scope. Selected questions will be forwarded to one or two practitioners who will prepare brief responses for publication. The inquirers will receive copies of the responses before publication. Readers are encouraged to comment on the answers; such comments will be considered for the Letters column.