James Johns, M.D.
Johns to advise state pharmacy committee
James Johns, M.D., professor of Pediatric Cardiology at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, has been appointed to the TennCare Pharmacy Advisory Committee by Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Johns will serve as the pediatric representative on the advisory committee, which meets quarterly to make evidence-based recommendations to the TennCare Bureau regarding medications to be included on the Preferred Drug List.
The appointment runs through July 31, 2011.
“I have a strong interest in drug safety, efficacy and costs, and I recognize the importance of these issues in providing the highest quality of health care both at Vanderbilt and across the state,” Johns said. “I am honored to have been asked to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to being able to help TennCare provide optimal medical care in a sustainable way.”
Johns has been a member of Vanderbilt's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee since 1995 and has chaired the Children's Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee since its inception in 2005.
TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid-managed care program that provides health coverage for 1.2 million low-income children, pregnant women and disabled Tennesseans.