Pharmacy

A drug class that breaks down mucus viscosity to improve airway clearance, commonly used in respiratory conditions such as COPD and cystic fibrosis. Captured in EHR medication orders and pharmacy dispensing records with specific drug class codes used by PBM systems for utilization management and formulary placement decisions.

A standardized examination testing knowledge of federal and state pharmacy law required for pharmacist licensure in participating states. Administered by NABP as part of pharmacist licensure requirements. MPJE scores are reported to state boards of pharmacy and tracked in pharmacist credentialing systems.

A drug class used to reduce muscle spasm and spasticity, including agents such as cyclobenzaprine and baclofen, captured in EHR medication records and PBM formulary systems. Pharmacy claims data uses specific drug class codes for muscle relaxants to support utilization review, prior authorization, and controlled substance monitoring.

A public health intervention program that dispenses naloxone opioid reversal medication to at-risk individuals or their caregivers, tracked in pharmacy dispensing systems, state prescription drug monitoring programs, and public health databases. Claims systems capture naloxone distribution events for program reporting, reimbursement, and opioid overdose prevention analytics.

A unit of mass equal to one-billionth of a gram, used in laboratory and pharmacy systems to express drug plasma concentrations, therapeutic drug monitoring results, and hormone levels. EHR lab result fields and pharmacy clinical systems store nanogram values with associated reference ranges to support dosing decisions and clinical interpretation.

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for pain and inflammation management, identified in pharmacy systems by specific NDC codes and drug class identifiers. PBM formulary systems classify naproxen at various tier levels, and EHR clinical decision support tools flag its use in patients with renal impairment, GI risk, or concurrent anticoagulant therapy.

A controlled substance drug class that relieves pain and induces sedation but carries risk of dependence and abuse, subject to DEA scheduling and state prescription drug monitoring program reporting requirements. EHR prescribing systems enforce mandatory PDMP checks, and PBM platforms apply quantity limits, prior authorization, and drug utilization review edits for narcotic claims.

A route of drug administration designating delivery through the nasal mucosa, coded in pharmacy and EHR systems using standardized route-of-administration codes such as SNOMED or FDA codes. Pharmacy dispensing platforms and EHR medication order systems use nasal route codes to drive drug interaction checks, dosing logic, and medication administration instructions.

The national organization of state boards of pharmacy that develops and administers pharmacist licensure examinations, maintains the pharmacist license verification system, and sets standards for pharmacy practice. NABP accredits pharmacy programs and manages the CPE Monitor continuing education tracking system.

A CMS benchmark representing the average price pharmacies pay to acquire drugs from wholesalers based on invoice data voluntarily submitted by pharmacies. NADAC is used as a drug pricing reference in Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement and pharmacy network contract negotiations.

The standards organization that develops and maintains data interchange standards for pharmacy claims transactions including the NCPDP Telecommunication Standard used for real-time pharmacy claim submission. NCPDP standards are HIPAA-mandated for pharmacy claim transactions between pharmacies and PBMs.

The National Drug Code (NDC) is the FDA's universal product identifier for human drugs, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, and insulin. Every drug product marketed in the United States is assigned a unique NDC that identifies the labeler (manufacturer or distributor), the specific drug product formulation, and the specific package size and type. The NDC is an 11-digit number structured as three segments: a 5-digit labeler code, a 4-digit product code, and a 2-digit package code. The same active ingredient at the same strength available from different manufacturers will have different labeler codes, making NDC the finest-grained drug product identifier in the US healthcare system. NDC codes are the primary drug identifier in pharmacy claims transactions (NCPDP D.0 standard), PBM adjudication systems, formulary management, medication adherence analytics, and drug safety surveillance. HEDIS pharmacy-based quality measures such as Medication Adherence for Diabetes, Cholesterol, and Hypertension medications rely on NDC codes to identify qualifying drug dispensing events. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) controlled substance schedules are mapped to NDC codes for pharmacovigilance and formulary tier management. The FDA updates the NDC directory weekly as new drug products are approved and existing products are discontinued. Healthcare data engineers face a pervasive normalization challenge with NDC codes because the same drug product arrives from different source systems in incompatible formats: 5-4-2 dash-segmented (12345-6789-01), 11-digit flat with leading zeros (12345678901), 10-digit without leading zeros (1234567890), and various hybrid formats. All must be normalized to 11-digit no-dash format by stripping dashes and left-padding with zeros before joining to the FDA NDC directory or CMS drug reference files. NDC columns should be stored as VARCHAR(11) — never as integers, which drop leading zeros. Common data model components include a drug reference dimension table populated from the FDA NDC directory containing proprietary name, nonproprietary name, dosage form, route, strength, DEA schedule, and therapeutic class, joined to pharmacy claims fact tables via the normalized 11-digit NDC. Related identifiers include the Generic Product Identifier (GPI), RxNorm for normalized drug concepts, and HCPCS J-codes for injectable drugs billed on medical claims.

An official compendium of drug standards maintained by the United States Pharmacopeia, referenced in pharmacy systems and drug reference databases to validate excipient and inactive ingredient standards. NF designations appear in drug master files, FDA submissions, and pharmaceutical manufacturing quality systems to indicate compliance with established purity and quality specifications.

A durable medical equipment device classification used in pharmacy dispensing systems, DME claims, and EHR medication administration records for delivering aerosolized drug therapy. Nebulizers are identified by HCPCS codes in CMS claims data, linked to NDC-coded drug canisters in PBM records, and tracked in member benefit management systems under DME benefit categories with associated utilization and coverage rules.

A medical supply item classified under HCPCS codes in DME and pharmacy claims data, used in conjunction with injectable drug dispensing records in EHR and PBM systems. Needle gauge and length attributes appear in supply chain management datasets and are linked to specific drug administration records in clinical documentation, supporting utilization tracking and covered supply benefit adjudication in claims processing.

A pharmacy specialty focused on medication management for newborn patients in neonatal intensive care units. Neonatal pharmacists optimize drug dosing for premature and critically ill newborns with immature organ function. Tracked in hospital pharmacy credentialing and clinical data warehouse staffing records.

A cardiovascular medication identified by specific NDC codes and RxNorm identifiers in pharmacy claims, PBM formulary databases, and EHR medication order records. NTG appears across multiple drug formulations including sublingual tablets, transdermal patches, and IV infusions, requiring dosage form-specific logic in drug utilization review systems and clinical decision support rules within platforms like Epic and Cerner.

Prescription dispensing status code used in pharmacy and PBM systems indicating zero remaining refills authorized by the prescriber. Triggers patient outreach workflows and requires new Rx before dispensing in retail, mail-order, and specialty pharmacy platforms.

Pharmacy preparation process where medications are mixed or formulated without sterility requirements, tracked in PBM and pharmacy dispensing systems. Includes topical creams, ointments, and oral preparations. Compounding records capture ingredients, lot numbers, and dispenser credentials for regulatory compliance.

A class of medications that reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. Widely used for pain management and tracked in pharmacy claims data for drug utilization review and medication therapy management programs.