formulary

English

Etymology

From French formulaire; equivalent to formula +‎ -ary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɔː(ɹ)mjʊləɹi/

Noun

formulary (plural formularies)

1. A list of formulas; a collection of set forms to be followed, especially in religious belief.
   • 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 136:

     “Pray,” replied the Colonel, “do you believe in all the doctrines to be found in the public creeds and formularies of our own church.”

2. A pharmacopoeia or list of available drugs, particularly prescription drugs
   • 2009 February 2, “Oxycodone has positive side, too”, in Toronto Star‎^[1]:

     However, when used appropriately under medical guidance, this drug is a safe and essential part of a physician's formulary.

3. (healthcare) A list of drugs, created by health insurers, hospitals, or prescription drug plans, that defines how costs for any drug are shared between patient and health care provider, typically broken down by tiers such as preferred generics with lowest copay, or preferred brand with higher copay, or non-preferred brand and not covered tiers with the highest cost to the patient.
   • 2006 October 3, Vanessa Fuhrmans, “Medicare drug plans: the new choices”, in Pittsburgh Post Gazette‎^[2], archived from the original on 13 November 2006:

     Even if beneficiaries want to stay in their current plan, they should still check that the drugs they take are remaining on their plan's formulary and on the same co-pay "tier" as before.

4. An ancient or medieval collection of models for official writings.
5. A collection of formulas in sciences and mathematics.

See also

a pharmacopoeia or list of available drugs, particularly prescription drugs

• codex
• dispensatory
• pharmacopoeia

 

Adjective

formulary (comparative more formulary, superlative most formulary)

1. Stated; prescribed; ritual.

Derived terms

• nonformulary

Further reading

• formulary on Wikipedia.Wikipedia