Med-QUEST Drug Use Review Program

The Drug Use Review (DUR) program consists of prospective drug review, retrospective drug use review, and an educational program. Included but not limited to the following are ongoing interventions for physicians and pharmacists, targeted toward therapy problems or individuals identified in the course of retrospective drug use reviews, including intensified review or monitoring of selected prescribers or dispensers and re-evaluation of interventions after an appropriate period of time to determine if the intervention improved the quality of drug therapy, to evaluate the success of the interventions and make modifications as necessary. The goal is to ensure appropriate drug therapy, while permitting sufficient professional prerogatives to allow for individualized drug therapy. Med-QUEST is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the DUR program is operational. The agency has the authority to accept or reject the recommendations or decisions of the DUR Board.

About the DUR Board
DUR Members
DUR Meetings

The DUR Board assures that prescriptions are appropriate, are medically necessary, and are not likely to result in adverse medical results. The program shall be designed to educate physicians and pharmacists to identify and reduce the frequency of patterns of fraud, abuse, gross overuse, excessive utilization, or inappropriate or medically unnecessary care, or prescribing or billing practices that indicate abuse or excessive utilization among physicians, pharmacists, and patients, or associated with specific drugs or groups or drugs, as well as potential and actual severe adverse reactions to drugs including education on therapeutic appropriateness, overutilization and underutilization, appropriate use of generic products, therapeutic duplication, drug-disease contraindications, drug-drug interactions, incorrect drug dosage or duration of drug treatment, drug-allergy interactions, and clinical abuse/misuse.

HAR 17-1739.1-13 DUR Board

The Social Security Act Section 1927 (g)(3)(D)

42 CFR 456, subpart K

42 CFR 456.703 - Drug use review program

42 CFR 456.716 - DUR Board

The DUR Board consists of appointed active practicing physicians and pharmacists from various settings and one medical services representative in the State of Hawaii.

Wendell Au, Registered Pharmacist

Eddie Fox, Medical Services Representative

Kathleen T. Kang-Kaulupali, Registered Pharmacist, DUR Coordinator

James Lumeng, M.D.

Miki Lei Morita, Registered Pharmacist

Reed Muraoka, Registered Pharmacist

Greg Yuen, M.D.

DUR meetings take place in-person and on-line using a virtual platform.

The 2025 tentative schedule is:

Wednesday, February 12
Wednesday, May 14
Wednesday, August 13
Wednesday, November 12

Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: Kakuhihewa Building - 601 Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei - Conference Rooms 577A and 577B

Written comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] or mailed to Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division, Attn: Drug Use Review Board, P.O. Box 700190, Kapolei, HI 96709-0190.

The agenda is posted to the State electronic calendar as required by the Hawaii Revised Statues (HRS) section 92-7(b) and not less than six calendar days before the meeting for public inspection.

The board shall maintain a list of names and postal or electronic mail addresses of persons who request notification of meetings and shall mail or electronically mail a copy of the notice to the persons by means chosen by the persons at their last recorded postal or electronic mail address.

All interested persons shall have an opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments, in writing, and an opportunity to present oral testimony to any agenda item. Any person providing oral testimony is requested to submit the remarks, or a summary of the remarks, in writing to the board, no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting and shall state the item on which the testimony is being presented. The board provides for oral testimony of three minutes.

Minutes

Meeting Notice and Agenda

Minutes

Meeting Notice and Agenda

Minutes

Meeting Notice and Agenda

Minutes

Meeting Notice and Agenda

Minutes

Meeting Notice and Agenda

Minutes

Meeting Notice and Agenda