ACADEMIC DETAILING UPDATE

PPC continues to support the development of academic detailing (prescriber education) programs in Northern New England and throughout the US.

PPC Academic Detailing Project Director Jennifer Reck was asked to serve on
the Advisory Committee for Maine’s Academic Detailing Program. Academic detailing programs, also known as prescriber education, send trained clinicians to physicians’ offices to present the best available, most up-to-date scientific evidence on prescription drugs. They are objective, educational outreach
efforts, not attempts to sell or mandate specific drugs. In 2007, Maine passed legislation establishing a voluntary academic detailing service for providers participating in state funded health care programs. Maine’s program is now being launched, beginning with a focus on diabetes care.

As a member of the Advisory Committee, Reck provides guidance to Maine’s
Department of Human Services regarding the implementation of the new program. More specifically, she assists with the selection of which drug classes are good candidates for prescriber education and the development of strategies for outreach to prescribers.

In addition to her efforts in Maine, Reck helped draft prescriber education policy, and provided information to Maryland policy makers on how the state might start a program. She also provided technical assistance to other states also considering programs, including California and Texas.