What significant requirement was established by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90)?

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90) introduced several important reforms aimed at improving patient care and the healthcare system in general. Among its provisions, a significant requirement was the establishment of drug use review. This process requires pharmacists to review medications for safety and effectiveness before dispensing them to patients. The objective of this requirement is to ensure that prescriptions are appropriate for the patient, considering their medical history and current medication regimen.

This review process includes looking for potential drug interactions, contraindications, and therapeutic duplications, and assessing whether the medications prescribed are clinically appropriate for the patient’s condition. The implementation of drug use review has contributed to enhanced patient safety and optimized pharmaceutical care, which aligns directly with the goals of OBRA 90 to improve healthcare quality.

While the other options touch on important aspects of pharmacy practice, they do not represent the core requirements established by OBRA 90. The act did indeed lead to improved labeling of medications and other pricing measures, but the formalized drug use review is what marks a key change and focus in pharmacist responsibilities mandated by the legislation.