Provider prescribing of 4 antiretroviral agents after implementation of drug use guidelines in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Background: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) develops guidelines for VHA providers that delineate specific criteria for use of certain complex, costly medications indicated for specialized populations. These criteria are disseminated to all VHA facilities.

Objective: To (a) assess the concordance with VHA guidelines for use of 4 antiretrovirals (atazanavir, darunavir, enfuvirtide, and tipranavir), and (b) to describe prescribing of these agents before and after implementation of the guideline criteria.