Press Releases
U.S. Achieves Major Milestones In E-Prescribing – Surescripts Releases National Progress Report on E-Prescribing
April 22, 2009
SURESCRIPTS NAMES HARRY TOTONIS AS CEO
April 02, 2009
Surescripts Announces That Eight Software Vendors Have Achieved Advanced Certification Status for E-Prescribing
March 26, 2009
As Demand For E-Prescribing
and Information About It Grows, The New Surescripts Launches a New Website
March 10, 2009
Overview of MIPPA Incentive Program
January 14, 2009
Health Experts Launch New Web Site to Educate Consumers on Medication Safety
December 15, 2008
The Nation's Gastroenterologists, Opthalmologists Join Provider-Led Electronic
Prescribing Initiative
December 11, 2008
Prescription Solutions to Provide E-Prescribing Services Through
Surescripts-RxHub
December 09, 2008
MedImpact to Deliver e-Prescribing Solutions with Surescripts-RxHub
October 14, 2008
Health Care Stakeholders Release “How-To” Guide to Help Clinicians Switch from
Paper to E-Prescribing Systems
October 07, 2008
Surescripts-RxHub Response to DEA Proposal on E-Prescribing
September 25, 2008
ICERx.org Activated to Provide Emergency Access to Prescription Medication
Information for Hurricane Ike Evacuees
September 12, 2008
Prime Therapeutics Connects Physicians to Mail Order Pharmacy through
Surescripts-RxHub Network
August 27, 2008
Texas Medical Association Becomes First State Medical Organization to Join
Provider-led Electronic Prescribing Initiative
August 21, 2008
The Nation’s Optometrists and Urologists Join Provider-led Electronic
Prescribing Initiative
August 21, 2008
WELLPOINT NEXTRX AND BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND
WILL ENHANCE E-PRESCRIBING CAPABILITIES FOR RI PHYSICIANS
August 20, 2008
Surescripts-RxHub Applauds House and Senate Passage of First Ever Medicare
Incentives
July 09, 2008
Retail Pharmacies and Largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers Announce Merger of
E-prescribing Networks — Improving Safety, Accuracy, Efficiency of Prescription
Medicines for Patients Nationwide
July 01, 2008
As Demand For E-Prescribing and Information About It Grows, The New Surescripts
Launches a New Website
Whether You Are a Doctor, Pharmacist, Payer, Hospital, Policymaker or Software
Vendor, The Electronic Prescribing Resource Center Offers One-Click Access
to the Latest News, Stats, Research and Advice About E-Prescribing
ALEXANDRIA, Va. and ST. PAUL, Minn. – March 10, 2009 – Surescripts-RxHub, which
operates the country's largest national electronic prescribing network, today
announced that the company will henceforth be known as Surescripts®. To mark the
occasion, the new Surescripts has launched The E-Prescribing Resource Center (www.surescripts.com),
where doctors, pharmacists, payers, hospitals, policymakers and software vendors
can go to find the latest information and advice about e-prescribing. Resources
featured on the new Web site include:
Who’s Connected – Enter your ZIP code to find out which physicians and
pharmacies e-prescribe in your community and view a full list of the payers,
pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies connected to the Surescripts network.
Certification Status – Check a software vendor’s status and gauge its product’s
support for e-prescribing.
E-Prescribing Statistics & Rankings – See the latest state and national data
that tracks e-prescribing growth and read about progress at both levels,
including Surescripts’ annual ranking of states.
How to Get Connected – View step-by-step guides on how to establish a connection
to the Surescripts network whether you are a technology vendor, physician, payer
or pharmacy.
Best Practices – For those physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers
and payers already e-prescribing, Surescripts provides education on how
e-prescribing works, tips on how to solve problems and guidance on how to get
the most out of your e-prescribing investment.
Policy Updates – Surescripts’ experts share their views and offer background on
important policy developments.
News & Events – Read about important announcements related to e-prescribing, and
sign up to receive regular updates on important news and events from across the
industry.
Also highlighted throughout the site are Surescripts’ re-branded services. What
were once presented as seven discrete services are now three, reflecting the
three steps that define e-prescribing: Prescription Benefit, Prescription
History and Prescription Routing. Consistent with the promise of the merger
between Surescripts and RxHub, the change is part of a larger effort aimed at
simplifying e-prescribing for physicians, payers, pharmacies, technology vendors
and the market at large. That same principle carries over to the network upon
which those services are offered – now known as the Surescripts network. To see
a demonstration of how the Surescripts network and services enable
e-prescribing, please visit
www.surescripts.com and click on “How Electronic Prescribing Works.”
“When it comes to e-prescribing, we are in a very unique position,” said Rob
Cronin, spokesperson for Surescripts. “We are right in the middle of it all,
enabling e-prescribing every second of every day in communities throughout the
country. That gives us a perspective and understanding that not only is unique,
but obligates us to share our deep knowledge of e-prescribing in the most
effective and efficient way we know. So, in addition to operating a nationwide
network, testing and certifying software, and connecting all the players that
make e-prescribing possible, the new Surescripts will feature The E-Prescribing
Resource Center as another critical part of what we do.”
Surescripts is the result of a 2008 merger between the country’s two leading
health information networks: RxHub and Surescripts. RxHub was founded in 2001 by
the nation’s three largest PBMs – CVS Caremark Corporation, Express Scripts,
Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Surescripts was also formed in 2001 by the
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community
Pharmacists Association (NCPA). Both were created with the same goal in mind –
to reduce the cost and improve the safety and efficiency of a process relied on
by millions of patients every day.
In 2008, the U.S. saw twofold growth in e-prescribing adoption and use. This
continues the trend of the last three years. A review of 2006-2008 operational
data from Surescripts and RxHub indicates that electronic requests for
prescription information, the responses to those requests and the number of
prescriptions routed electronically totaled nearly half a billion. (Note: More
detailed data will be made available in the soon-to-be-released 2008 National
Progress Report on E-Prescribing. Visit
www.surescripts.com/report for
more information.)
As Medicare incentives, federal stimulus funding, and new state and federal
adoption initiatives take hold, the momentum behind e-prescribing is only
expected to grow. However, there is a demonstrated need to support that growth
with access to unbiased information and advice that allows users to realize the
full benefit of the technology.
In the weeks and months to come, visitors to
www.surescripts.com can expect to see
many updates to The E-Prescribing Resource Center, including more frequent
releases of state and national e-prescribing statistics and online communities
for physicians and pharmacists.
About Surescripts
Surescripts is the result of a 2008 merger between the country’s two leading
health information networks: RxHub and Surescripts. Surescripts gives healthcare
providers secure, electronic access to prescription information that can save
their patients’ lives, improve efficiency and reduce the cost of healthcare for
all. Available during emergencies or routine care, the Surescripts network is
used every day by thousands of physicians, physician assistants, nurse
practitioners and other prescribers across all 50 states. The Surescripts
network connects these prescribers to all of the nation’s major chain
pharmacies, the nation’s leading payers and independent pharmacies nationwide.
For more information, go to
www.surescripts.com
Press Contact:
Rob Cronin
(917) 414-5289
rob.cronin@surescripts.com
Health Experts Launch New Web Site to Educate Consumers on Medication Safety
Online Tools Help All Family Members Learn About Rx Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 15, 2008 – The Center for Improving Medication
Management (The Center) today launched www.LearnAboutRxSafety.org a new Web
site where consumers can learn how to use medications safely. Developed in
conjunction with the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE),
the Web site is primarily intended as a resource for families and all
individuals seeking information on medication safety. The Center will
collaborate with consumer organizations, provider and payer organizations and
other groups interested in promoting medication safety and adherence for
consumers.
LearnAboutRxSafety.org includes information and resources to help protect
families from the unintended consequences of improper medicine use, avoid
medication errors, and improve adherence to medicine therapy. Presented to
visitors as “Medicine Safety: A Tool Kit for Families,” the site offers
practical advice about:
how to avoid medication misuse;
getting the facts about your family’s medicines;
keeping a family medical record;
safe medicine use with children, older adults and during pregnancy; and
questions to ask your health team.
According to data from the federal government’s Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality, patients in the United States made over 1.56 billion visits to
physician offices in 2007 – 550 million of which generated at least one
prescription. Meanwhile, the Institute of Medicine estimates there are at least
1.5 million preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) in the U.S. each year.
“As baby boomers age and life expectancy continues to lengthen, more and more
Americans are caring for their children and parents,” said Kate Berry, executive
director of The Center and senior vice president for Surescripts-RxHub.
“Medicines are often an integral part of managing various health ailments and
medical conditions across generations. With LearnAboutRxSafety.org, our aim is
to equip families and the organizations they trust with their care with the
information, knowledge and skills needed to safely and effectively manage their
medications.”
NCPIE produced the online tool kit with an advisory panel featuring experts from
the American Academy of Family Physicians, AARP, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, The Center, CVS Caremark, Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the
Medical Group Management Association, the National Consumers League,
Surescripts-RxHub and Walgreen Co. A special feature of the Web site is licensed
content from NCPIE’s Medication Use Safety Training for Seniors™ (MUST for
Seniors™) program, as a special resource for parents or other family caregivers
involved in assisting older adult family members with their medication
management.
About The Center for Improving Medication Management
The Center for Improving Medication Management is committed to understanding how
technology improves the way medications are prescribed and used safely and
effectively by millions of patients every day. The Center was founded by the
American Academy of Family Physicians, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association,
Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the Medical Group Management Association and
Surescripts-RxHub. For more information, visit
www.theCIMM.org.
About the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
Organized in 1982, The National Council on Patient Information (NCPIE) is a
non-profit coalition of over 100 organizations committed to stimulating and
improving communication between consumers and health care professionals about
the safe and appropriate use of medicines. In addition to sponsoring "Talk About
Prescriptions" Month (
http://www.talkaboutrx.org ), NCPIE hosts the "Be MedWise" campaign
promoting wise use of over-the-counter medicines (
http://www.bemedwise.org ) and the
Medication Use Safety Training for Seniors program (
http://www.mustforseniors.org ).
Press Contacts:
Rob Cronin
For The Center for Improving Medication Management
917-414-5289
rob.cronin@SurescriptsRxHub.com
Ray Bullman
National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
(301) 656-8565, ext. 314
bullman@ncpie.info
The Nation's Gastroenterologists, Opthalmologists Join
Provider-Led Electronic Prescribing Initiative
Move Aims to Help More AGA Members to Start E-Prescribing
Before New Medicare Incentives Take Effect on January 1,
2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 10, 2008 – The American
Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the American
Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) today announced their
participation in “Get Connected,” a program designed to help
more of the nation’s prescribers begin sending prescriptions
to pharmacies electronically. Now backed by 13 of the
nation’s leading medical associations, Get Connected is
intended to help thousands of prescribers take advantage of
new Medicare incentives aimed at increasing the adoption and
use of e-prescribing.
Beginning in 2009, and during the next four years, Medicare
will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals
who are successful electronic prescribers, as defined by the
Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA).
Eligible professionals will receive a 2 percent incentive
payment in 2009 and 2010; a 1 percent incentive payment in
2011 and 2012; and a 0.5 percent incentive payment in 2013.
Beginning January 1, 2009, those physicians using a
qualified system to send electronic prescriptions (at the
rate defined by MIPPA) will receive higher levels of
reimbursement under Medicare through 2013. A qualified
system must be able to do all of the following:
Generate a medication list
Select medications, transmit prescriptions electronically
using the applicable standards, and warn the prescriber of
possible undesirable or unsafe situations
Provide information on lower-cost,
therapeutically-appropriate alternatives
Provide information on formulary or tiered formulary
medications, patient eligibility, and authorization
requirements received electronically from the patient’s drug
plan
Go to http://www.surescripts.com/get-connected.aspx to view
a list of systems that have been certified and the
functionality for which they have been certified.
Prescribers should check with their vendor to confirm that
their system is qualified under MIPPA guidelines and to
request activation of services that deliver the required
functionality.
The focal point of the Get Connected program is an online
portal –
www.GetRxConnected.com - where prescribers can follow a
step-by-step process designed to help them transition from
paper-based prescribing to e-prescribing.
Electronic prescribing, or “e-prescribing,” replaces the
need for handwritten, printed or faxed prescriptions and is
seen as a more accurate and efficient means of prescribing
medications. Because it is paperless, e-prescribing is also
regarded as a secure alternative to paper prescriptions
which can be stolen, copied, forged and otherwise
manipulated.
“AGA Institute is committed to helping its members
transition from paper to electronic medical records. In
addition, we recognized the importance of helping members
become eligible for any and all incentive funds provided by
CMS,” said John I Allen, MBA, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA Institute
Clinical Practice and Quality Management Committee. “The 2
percent incentive available for e-prescribing could
translate into approximately $1,000 per physician whose
practice sees 25 percent to 30 percent Medicare patients.
E-prescribing will soon be mandatory, as evidenced by
federal directives and stringent mandates originating in
several states. Cooperation among pharmacies has enabled
more than 70 percent to accept electronic prescriptions and
has cleared the way for this initiative to take off.
“It is now our turn as providers to meet requirements,” said
Dr. Allen. “We urge AGA members to take advantage of this
AGA Institute-sponsored program to help transition your
practice to e-prescribing.”
“The Academy is committed to helping its members adopt
e-prescribing to improve efficiency, reduce errors and
provide clinicians with easier access to a patient’s full
medication history,” said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr, MD executive
vice president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
In addition to the AGA and AAO, Get Connected is supported
by the:
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
American College of Cardiology (ACC)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
American Optometric Association (AOA)
American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
American Urological Association (AUA)
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
Texas Medical Association (TMA)
If you are a member of a state medical society or national
provider organization and would like to get more information
about how your membership can Get Connected for
e-prescribing, please contact Kate Berry, executive director
at The Center for Improving Medication Management at
kate.berry@Surescripts.com.
Created under the auspices of The Center for Improving
Medication Management (founded by the AAFP, Blue Cross Blue
Shield Association, Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the MGMA
and Surescripts-RxHub), GetRxConnected.com contains urgent
information and guidance for an estimated 150,000
prescribers located throughout the United States that are
currently using electronic medical record (EMR) and other
clinical software to fax prescriptions to pharmacies.
Computer-generated faxing of prescriptions prevents
prescribers from achieving the gains in practice efficiency
and patient safety associated with e-prescribing. (Important
Note to Prescribers Using EMRs: Most EMR users believe that
they already send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically
– i.e., they are unaware that it is far more likely that
their EMR is generating faxes that arrive on paper at the
pharmacy’s fax machine. Prescribers using EMR systems that
can only send computer-generated, faxed prescriptions will
not be eligible for the Medicare incentives for
e-prescribing.)
How to Get Connected
Following the completion of a brief self-assessment on
GetRxConnected.com, prescribers and their staffs can find
out if the software brand and version they are using is
certified to generate e-prescriptions compliant with the
National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP)
SCRIPT standard, as required by the new Medicare incentives.
The SCRIPT standard facilitates the electronic transmission
of prescriptions and prescription-related information.
The Get Connected program is equally intended for
prescribers and practice management professionals who have
yet to invest in EMR or other clinical software. The portal
provides guidance on how to evaluate and acquire technology
that supports e-prescribing. GetRxConnected.com also helps
prescribers and practice management professionals assess the
financial impact of e-prescribing using an interactive
feature that allows them to calculate an estimate of the
time and resources their practice is currently dedicating to
the manual processing of prescriptions.
# # #
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is
dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and
practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is
one of the oldest medical-specialty societies in the U.S.
Comprised of two non-profit organizations – the AGA and the
AGA Institute – our more than 17,000 members include
physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat
disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. For more
information, please visit
www.gastro.org.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and
surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 27,000 members worldwide.
Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians,
optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the
ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye
diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. For more
information, visit the Academy's Web site at
www.aao.org.
About The Center for Improving Medication Management
The Center for Improving Medication Management is committed
to understanding how technology improves the way medications
are prescribed and used safely and effectively by millions
of patients every day. The Center was founded by the
American Academy of Family Physicians, Blue Cross Blue
Shield Association, Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the
Medical Group Management Association and Surescripts-RxHub.
For more information, visit
www.theCIMM.org.
Press Contacts:
Rob Cronin
For The Center for Improving Medication Management
917-414-5289
rob.cronin@SurescriptsRxHub.com
Amanda Denning
AAFP
913-906-6000, ext. 5223
adenning@aafp.org
Nancy McMurrey
AANP
512-276-5906
nmcmurrey@aanp.org
Kevin Walter
AAO
202-737-6662
Kwalter@aaodc.org
Susan Martin
AAP
847-434-7131
ssmartin@aap.org
Jane Howard
AAPA
703 836-2272 ext. 3502.
jane@aapa.org
Amy Murphy
ACC
202-375-6476
amurphy@acc.org
Aimee Frank
AGA Institute
301-941-2620
media@gastro.org
Vicki Martinka
AOA (American Osteopathic Association)
312-202-8159
vmartinka@osteopathic.org
Susan Thomas
AOA (American Optometric Association)
314-983-4176
slthomas@aoa.org
Wendy Waldsachs Isett
AUA
410-689-3789
wisett@auanet.org
Liz Johnson
MGMA
303-799-1111, ext. 1347
eaj@mgma.com
Pam Udall
TMA
512-413-6807
pam.udall@texmed.com
Retail Pharmacies and Largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers Announce Merger of
E-prescribing Networks — Improving Safety, Accuracy, Efficiency of Prescription
Medicines for Patients Nationwide
CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Medco Health Solutions Join with U.S. Chain and
Independent Pharmacies to Accelerate Transition from
Paper-Based to Paperless Prescribing
ALEXANDRIA, Va. and ST. PAUL, Minn. – July 1, 2008 – In the single most
significant advance to the accuracy, efficiency and quality of information
associated with the 4 billion prescriptions written annually in the United
States, the nation’s retail pharmacies and leading pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)
today announced an unprecedented collaboration to unite the country’s two
leading health information networks.
The groups have merged two organizations: RxHub, founded in 2001 by the nation’s
three largest PBMs – CVS Caremark Corporation, Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco
Health Solutions, Inc.; and Surescripts, also formed in 2001 by the National
Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists
Association (NCPA). The organizations will consolidate their operations, forming
a single, secure, nationwide network for e-prescriptions and the exchange of
health information.
RxHub’s expertise in patient identification and delivering drug benefit
information to the physician at the point of care complements Surescripts’ focus
on electronic prescription routing from the physician’s office to the pharmacy.
The merger combines these strengths with a shared focus on more access to
patient medication history to form a single suite of comprehensive services. The
new organization will enable physicians to securely access vital health
information when caring for their patients through a fast and efficient health
information exchange. This will allow them to transmit electronic prescriptions
and renewal requests to both retail and mail-order pharmacies.
In 2008, the combined organization expects to transmit 100 million electronic
prescription transactions and respond to more than 70 million requests by
physicians confirming information about their patients’ drug coverages and
medication histories. With appropriate patient consent, the combined
organization will extend this information to clinicians caring for more than 200
million patients across the United States.
Easy, Efficient, Accurate, Safe and Secure
With this information more readily available, the process of prescribing
medications is measurably improved by:
providing physicians with added knowledge of their patients;
enabling a more informed choice of therapy;
ensuring that the medicine intended by the physician is actually and accurately
communicated to the pharmacy;
allowing patients to weigh important economic considerations within a range of
appropriate clinical options before a prescription is written; and
adding convenience to the overall process.
“I can think of 4 billion reasons this merger makes sense,” said John Driscoll,
president, New Markets, Medco Health Solutions, Inc. “Prescribing medications
for patients is one of the most fundamental acts in healthcare. If we, as an
industry and as a nation, are serious about improving the quality of care and
making it more cost-effective, then immediate and sweeping measures are
required. This merger sets aside historic economic and political differences to
do what is necessary to advance paperless prescribing and the secure exchange of
critical information between providers – instantly elevating the quality of
care.”
“This merger represents a collaboration between industries that are equally
committed to improving healthcare,” said Bruce Roberts, executive vice president
and CEO, NCPA. “The combined strengths of the two organizations will enable the
delivery of a single suite of services that will dramatically improve the
safety, efficiency and quality of one of the largest segments in healthcare. We
remain committed to maintaining the guiding principles that have driven the
success of Surescripts and RxHub to date. We will continue to protect patient
choice of pharmacy and physician choice of therapy.”
Today, there are hundreds of technology vendors developing electronic medical
records – as well as other clinical software that includes e-prescribing
functionality – used by physician practices across the United States. For these
vendors, the merger of RxHub and Surescripts will offer a single, unified
process for testing and certifying their products’ connection to a single
network and the services it provides. Streamlining these processes will save the
industry time and money and will offer physicians more of the information they
need to provide quality care to their patients.
The new organization will remain committed to proactively supporting the
standards that have been defined for electronic prescribing and health
information exchange and will continue to collaborate with leading standards and
accrediting organizations.
Merger Details
The boards of directors of both organizations approved the cashless merger of
equals. Surescripts’ owners (NACDS and NCPA) will retain 50 percent ownership as
will RxHub’s owners (CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions).
The new organization will remain privately owned and continue to operate under a
cost-recovery model as a low-cost health information utility.
Initially, the new organization will be jointly managed by the acting CEO of
RxHub, J.P. Little, and the acting CEO of Surescripts, Rick Ratliff. The new
board has begun a process to select a CEO and has retained Spencer Stuart to
conduct a nationwide search. Driscoll and Roberts will serve as co-chairmen of
the board of directors through 2009. The co-chairmen will rotate on an annual
basis to include one co-chair representing PBMs and the other representing
retail pharmacies. The new six-member board includes a single director each from
CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Medco Health Solutions, NACDS and NCPA. The sixth
member of the board is designated by NACDS and NCPA. The combined company will
have more than 75 employees and will maintain its existing office locations in
St. Paul and Alexandria.
The new organization is undertaking a rebranding initiative. In the interim, the
company will be referred to as Surescripts-RxHub. For more information regarding
this merger, please visit www.SurescriptsRxHub.com.
E-Prescribing’s Unprecedented Momentum
We expect this transaction to add momentum to the rapidly developing nationwide
support for e-prescribing. Some recent developments include:
In December of 2007, U.S. Sen. John Kerry joined with former Speaker and founder
of the Center for Health Transformation Newt Gingrich and a number of Senate
colleagues to announce the introduction of the Medicare Electronic Medication
and Safety Protection Act (“E-MEDS”). The E-MEDS bill proposes to offer
physicians reimbursements for investing in e-prescribing technology as well as
incentive payments each time a prescription is transmitted electronically and
the claim is submitted through Medicare.
During that same week in December, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse chaired a Senate
Judiciary Committee hearing on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s policy
prohibiting e-prescribing of controlled substances. This policy requires
physician practices to maintain two separate processes for prescribing: one that
is paper-based for controlled substances and another that is electronically
based for all other medications. In the view of many physicians and pharmacists,
the administrative burden of maintaining two separate processes is a significant
barrier to adoption and use of e-prescribing. If the DEA were to permit
e-prescribing of controlled substances, it would represent another potential
boost to e-prescribing adoption and use.
Beginning on March 4, 2008, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP),
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Nurse
Practitioners, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American
College of Cardiology (ACC), the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Medical
Group Management Association (MGMA) took the unprecedented action of not only
announcing their support for e-prescribing, but also launching a nationwide
program and an online portal – www.GetRxConnected.com – where physicians can
follow a step-by-step process designed to help them transition from paper-based
prescribing to e-prescribing. GetRxConnected.com was created under the auspices
of The Center for Improving Medication Management (founded by the AAFP, Humana
Inc., Intel Corporation, the MGMA and Surescripts).
On April 2, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued final
standards for e-prescribing under the Part D Medicare drug program.
As of April 14, 2008, the following organizations have formally voiced support
for e-prescribing: AARP; AFL-CIO; American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees; Center for Medical Consumers; Childbirth Connection;
Consumers Union; Health Care For All; National Consumers League; National Family
Caregivers Association; National Partnership for Women & Families; and SEIU.
On June 27, 2008, the DEA proposed regulations that would provide physicians and
other authorized prescribers with the option of issuing electronic prescriptions
for controlled substances. These regulations would also permit pharmacies to
receive, dispense, and archive these electronic prescriptions. The agency is
seeking public comment on the proposed regulations through September 25, 2008.
The timing of today’s merger is, therefore, no coincidence. It reflects the view
by all board members that the merger will combine with recent events to greatly
accelerate the nation’s move toward paperless prescribing and the secure,
electronic exchange of health information.
Surescripts-RxHub Applauds House and Senate Passage of First
Ever Medicare Incentives
The co-CEOs of Surescripts-RxHub, J.P. Little and Rick
Ratliff, released the following statement today after the
U.S. Senate passed a bill to give Medicare the ability to
reward physicians for acquiring and using electronic
prescribing or “e-prescribing” technology as a replacement
for paper prescriptions. Offering financial incentives to
physicians who e-prescribe is widely viewed as a critical
step towards increasing the technology’s adoption and day to
day use. The bill is now headed to the President for
signature.
“The potential impact of this legislation on the everyday
lives of patients in the U.S. healthcare system cannot be
overstated. In 2007, patients in the U.S. left their
doctors’ offices with at least one prescription on 550
million separate occasions. For patients living in all 50
states and Washington, D.C., e-prescriptions offer the
convenience of having their prescription electronically
transmitted to the pharmacy before they ever leave their
doctor’s office. Getting rid of the paper and pen also
improves patient safety by eliminating the need for
pharmacists to interpret illegible handwriting.
“With this bill, legislators are wisely applying the federal
government’s leverage as the nation’s largest healthcare
insurer to accelerate the adoption of e-prescribing. Today,
more than 70 percent of all retail and mail order pharmacies
are using e-prescriptions compared to six percent of
physicians. The bill passed today represents one of the
single most important steps ever taken to close that gap.
Offering physicians direct incentives to both acquire and
use e-prescribing technology is a proven approach to
boosting the rates of e-prescribing. Surescripts-RxHub has
witnessed this firsthand as part of its work with healthcare
leaders in the nation’s top e-prescribing states.”
Last week, the nation’s retail pharmacies and leading
pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) announced an unprecedented
collaboration to unite the country’s two leading health
information networks – one operated by Surescripts and the
other by RxHub. The newly merged entity not only allows
healthcare providers to route prescriptions electronically
to their patients’ choice of pharmacy, but also gives them
secure, electronic access to prescription information that
can save their patients’ lives and reduce the cost of
healthcare for all. Both Little and Ratliff have played lead
roles in the design, creation and operation of
Surescripts-RxHub – a secure, low cost utility that has
quickly become a strategic asset to a nation in search of
safer, more efficient health care.
“Combined with the new Medicare rules scheduled to take
effect on January 1, 2009 – rules that require
computer-generated prescriptions covered by the Medicare
Part D program to be transmitted electronically – the new
Medicare e-prescribing incentives would greatly accelerate
the nation’s move to paperless prescribing. This would not
only improve the safety and quality of prescribing
medications, but what many physicians may not know is that
e-prescribing also saves their practice a great deal of time
and money.
“To begin realizing all of these benefits as quickly and
easily as possible, we encourage all physicians to go to
www.GetRxConnected.com.There, physicians will find urgent
information and guidance on how to ‘Get Connected’ for
e-prescribing. Get Connected has been launched by the
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American
Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Physician
Assistants (AAPA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC),
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG),
the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and the Medical
Group Management Association (MGMA) in conjunction with The
Center for Improving Medication Management (founded by the
AAFP, Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the MGMA and
Surescripts-RxHub).”
The Nation’s Optometrists and Urologists Join Provider-led Electronic
Prescribing Initiative
Move Aims to Help More AOA and AUA Members to Start E-Prescribing Before New
Medicare Rules Take Effect on January 1, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 21, 2008 – The American Optometric Association (AOA)
and the American Urological Association (AUA) today announced their
participation in "Get Connected," a program designed to help more of the
nation’s prescribers begin sending prescriptions to pharmacies electronically.
The program aims to help thousands of prescribers comply with new Medicare rules
scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2009 – rules that require all
computer-generated prescriptions covered by the Medicare Part D program to be
transmitted electronically.
Medicare is also taking new steps to speed the adoption of e-prescribing by
offering incentive payments to physicians and other eligible professionals who
use the technology. Beginning in 2009, and during the next four years, Medicare
will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals who are successful
electronic prescribers. Eligible professionals will receive a 2 percent
incentive payment in 2009 and 2010; a 1 percent incentive payment in 2011 and
2012; and a one half percent incentive payment in 2013.
The focal point of the Get Connected program is an online portal –
www.GetRxConnected.com – where prescribers can follow a step-by-step process
designed to help them transition from paper-based prescribing to e-prescribing.
"While many health care practices presently have patient record software
programs which offer e-prescribing capabilities, many may not meet National
Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) standards which will be
increasingly required over the coming years," AOA Health Information Technology
and Telemedicine Committee Chair Fran McVeigh, OD noted.
"We are pleased to provide our members with useful information on how they can
make the transition to e-prescribing and qualify for the Medicare bonuses
payable", said Rick Rutherford, Director of Practice Management for the AUA.
Electronic prescribing, or "e-prescribing," replaces the need for handwritten,
printed or faxed prescriptions and is seen as a more accurate and efficient
means of prescribing medications. And because it is paperless, e-prescribing is
also regarded as a secure alternative to paper prescriptions which can be
stolen, copied, forged and otherwise manipulated.
In addition to the AOA and AUA, Get Connected is supported by:
the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
the American College of Cardiology (ACC)
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
and the Texas Medical Association (TMA)
If you are a member of a state medical society or national provider organization
and would like to get more information about how your membership can Get
Connected for e-prescribing, please contact Kate Berry, executive director at
The Center for Improving Medication Management at
kate.berry@SurescriptsRxHub.com.
Created under the auspices of The Center for Improving Medication Management
(founded by the AAFP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Humana Inc., Intel
Corporation, the MGMA and Surescripts-RxHub), GetRxConnected.com contains urgent
information and guidance for an estimated 150,000 prescribers located throughout
the U.S. that are currently using electronic medical record (EMR) and other
clinical software to fax prescriptions to pharmacies. Computer-generated faxing
of prescriptions not only prevents prescribers from achieving the gains in
practice efficiency and patient safety associated with e-prescribing, but
starting on January 1, 2009, all computer-generated prescriptions covered by the
Medicare Part D program must be transmitted electronically and not via
computer-generated fax. (Important Note to Prescribers Using EMRs: Most EMR
users believe that they already send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically
– i.e., they are unaware that it is far more likely that their EMR is generating
faxes that arrive on paper at the pharmacy’s fax machine. These
computer-generated, faxed prescriptions will not be in compliance with the new
Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) Part D regulations.)
Through GetRxConnected.com, prescribers and their staffs can find out if the
software brand and version they are using is certified to generate
e-prescriptions compliant with the National Council for Prescription Drug
Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT standard as required by the new Medicare regulations.
The SCRIPT standard facilitates the electronic transmission of prescriptions and
prescription-related information. Following the completion of a brief
self-assessment, visitors to GetRxConnected.com can receive a free, personalized
report that indicates the compliance status of their existing software and that
can be used to request an electronic connection to pharmacies through their
vendor.
The Get Connected program is equally intended for prescribers and practice
management professionals who have yet to invest in EMR or other clinical
software. The portal provides guidance on how to evaluate and acquire technology
that supports e-prescribing. GetRxConnected.com also helps prescribers and
practice management professionals to assess the financial impact of
e-prescribing using an interactive feature that allows them to calculate an
estimate of the time and resources their practice is currently dedicating to the
manual processing of prescriptions.
E-Prescribing: An Opportunity to Save Time, Dollars and Lives
There remains a sizable opportunity to increase the adoption and use of
e-prescribing nationwide. Although Surescripts-RxHub estimates that more than
100 million prescription transactions will be routed electronically in 2008,
that number represents only 7 percent of eligible prescriptions (see The
National Progress Report on E-Prescribing at www.surescripts.com/report The
realization of e-prescribing’s full potential represents an unprecedented
opportunity to improve patient safety and the efficiency of the prescribing
process.
According to the Center for Information Technology Leadership, use of electronic
prescribing with an electronic connection to pharmacy and advanced
decision-support capabilities could help prevent 130,000 life-threatening
medication errors annually.
By eliminating paper from the prescribing process, and particularly by
automating prescription renewals, e-prescribing has been proven to offer
significant time savings by reducing prescription-related phone calls and faxes,
allowing prescribers and their staffs more time to care for their patients. A
study by MGMA’s Group Practice Research Network estimated that administrative
complexity related to prescriptions costs practices $15,700 a year for each
full-time physician – that does not even take into consideration the time and
cost of managing faxes.
About the American Optometric Association
The American Optometric Association (AOA) represents approximately 36,000
doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and
technicians. Optometrists provide two-thirds of all primary eye care in the
United States and serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country.
In 3,500 of those communities they are the only eye doctors.
AOA doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline
of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and
disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists
play a major role in a patient's overall health and well-being by detecting
systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. For more information, visit
www.aoa.org.
About the American Urological Association
Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American
Urological Association is the pre-eminent professional organization for
urologists, with more than 15,000 members throughout the world. An educational
nonprofit organization, the AUA pursues its mission of fostering the highest
standards of urologic care by carrying out a wide variety of programs for
members and their patients, including UrologyHealth.org, an award-winning
on-line patient education resource, and the American Urological Association
Foundation, Inc.
About The Center for Improving Medication Management
The Center for Improving Medication Management serves as an industry resource by
gathering and disseminating best and worst practices related to technology
deployment for electronic medication management and for leveraging that
technology and connectivity to test innovative approaches to improve patient
adherence with prescribed medications. The Center was founded by the American
Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA),
Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
and Surescripts-RxHub. More information about The Center is available at
www.theCIMM.org.
Press Contacts:
Rob Cronin
For The Center for Improving Medication Management
917-414-5289
rob.cronin@surescripts.com
Amanda Denning
AAFP
913-906-6000, ext. 5223
adenning@aafp.org
Nancy McMurrey
AANP
512-276-5906
nmcmurrey@aanp.org
Susan Martin
AAP
847-434-7131
ssmartin@aap.org
Jane Howard
AAPA
703 836-2272 ext. 3502
jane@aapa.org
Amy Murphy
ACC
202-375-6476
amurphy@acc.org
Vicki Martinka
AOA (American Osteopathic Association)
312-202-8159
vmartinka@osteopathic.org
Susan Thomas
AOA (American Optometric Association)
314-983-4176
slthomas@aoa.org
Wendy Waldsachs Isett
AUA
410-689-3789
wisett@auanet.org
Liz Johnson
MGMA
303-799-1111, ext. 1347
eaj@mgma.com
Pam Udall
TMA
512-413-6807
pam.udall@texmed.com
WELLPOINT NEXTRX AND BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND
WILL ENHANCE E-PRESCRIBING CAPABILITIES FOR RI PHYSICIANS
New e-Prescription Feature Will Enable Physicians to Access Critical Information
Instantly
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – August 20, 2008 – WellPoint NextRx, an independent pharmacy
benefit management (PBM) company and the nation’s largest health-plan-owned PBM,
announced today that Surescripts-RxHub connectivity is available to physicians
in Rhode Island through Blue Cross & Blue Shield Rhode Island (BCBSRI) effective
August 16, 2008. The connection to Surescripts-RxHub network is part of
WellPoint NextRx’s e-prescribing strategy to reduce the time physicians spend
managing prescriptions while saving members money. It also supports
BCBSRI’s ongoing efforts to encourage adoption and use of electronic health
records by physicians.
"Approximately one in three Americans carry a Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield
card. Partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans is one way in which we
can combine our expertise and implement new programs to positively impact the
cost and quality of care that members receive," said Renwyck Elder, president of
WellPoint NextRx. "WellPoint NextRx is consistently identifying new programs
that offer health plan members access to affordable, quality medications. We're
pleased to be working with BCBSRI to connect physicians, including those
treating BCBSRI members, to critical decision support information at the point
of care to help manage the patients’ use of medications and counsel patients on
safe and affordable choices.”
The connection to Surescripts-RxHub allows NextRx to electronically link with
physicians/providers who e-prescribe, providing valuable real-time pharmacy
information before prescriptions are written, thereby helping to reduce errors
and increase physician effectiveness. Before an authorized physician or provider
prepares an e-prescription for a BCBSRI member, with patient consent, immediate
eligibility and formulary information will be provided from NextRx. In addition,
medication history can also be provided to physicians during the prescribing
process.
“We are making every effort to promote the adoption and use of electronic health
records by Rhode Island physicians,” said Jim Purcell, president and CEO, BCBSRI.
“We believe that making e-prescribing easier will further encourage its use,
which will directly benefit our members.”
In 2006, the state of Rhode Island finished first in the nation as part of the
first ever nationwide ranking of electronic prescribing activity, earning the
state the SafeRx Award. Earlier this year, NextRx completed a pilot program
launched by BCBSRI for increasing the use of specific generic over-the-counter
medications. The OTC Options Program was designed by NextRx in response to
BCBSRI’s desire to help members save money on medications to treat common
ailments such as allergies.
Surescripts-RxHub operates a low-cost utility that facilitates the secure
exchange of eprescriptions and prescription information nationwide. NextRx was
first connected to Surescripts-RxHub in late 2006. WellPoint NextRx is a service
mark of WellPoint, Inc. Services are provided by a WellPoint PBM (either NextRx
Services, Inc. or NextRx, LLC, as applicable). WellPoint NextRx is a division of
WellPoint, Inc.
About WellPoint NextRx WellPoint NextRx is a progressive pharmacy benefit
manager (PBM) helping health plans, employer groups and third party
administrators target the reduction of total health care costs and improve
health
outcomes. NextRx provides extensive PBM services including claims processing,
clinical and disease management programs, retail network, mail and specialty
pharmacy, customer service, and rebate management. With roots that date back to
the 1980’s, NextRx has years of experience in providing all of these fundamental
services. WellPoint NextRx is a division of WellPoint, Inc. Services are
provided by a
WellPoint PBM (either NextRx Services, Inc. or NextRx, LLC, as applicable).
Visit
www.wellpointnextrx.com.
About Surescripts-RxHub
Surescripts-RxHub gives healthcare providers secure, electronic access to
prescription information that can save their patients’ lives and reduce the cost
of healthcare for all. Available during emergencies or routine care,
Surescripts-RxHub’s network is used by physicians, physician assistants and
nurse practitioners nationwide to exchange health information and prescribe
without paper. The next time you or anyone you know goes for a checkup and your
healthcare provider takes out their pad and pen to write a prescription, take
the opportunity to ask them for an e-prescription instead. For more information
go to www.SurescriptsRxHub.com.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island (BCBSRI)
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has been the state's leading health
insurer for more than 69 years and now covers more than 680,000 members. Blue
Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Association.
Press Contacts:
Lisa Greiner
Comprehensive Health Solutions (CHS) Communications Director
212-476-7011
lisa.greiner@empireblue.com
Chris Medici
Chief Communications Officer
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
(401) 459-5283
chris.medici@bcbsri.org
Rob Cronin
Surescripts-RxHub
(917) 414-5289
rob.cronin@SurescriptsRxHub.com
Texas Medical Association Becomes First State Medical Organization to Join
Provider-led Electronic Prescribing Initiative
Move Aims to Help More Texas Physicians to Start E-Prescribing Before New
Medicare Rules Take Effect on January 1, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 21, 2008 – The Texas Medical Association (TMA) today
announced its participation in “Get Connected,” a program designed to help more
of the nation’s prescribers begin sending prescriptions to pharmacies
electronically. In announcing their support, the TMA becomes the first state
medical society in the nation to join the Get Connected program. The program
aims to help thousands of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician
assistants comply with new Medicare rules scheduled to take effect on January 1,
2009. The rules require that all computer-generated prescriptions covered by the
Medicare Part D program be transmitted electronically.
Medicare is also taking new steps to speed the adoption of electronic
prescribing or e-prescribing by offering incentive payments to physicians and
other eligible professionals who use the technology. Beginning in 2009, and
during the next four years, Medicare will provide incentive payments to eligible
professionals who are successful electronic prescribers. Eligible professionals
will receive a 2 percent incentive payment in 2009 and 2010; a 1 percent
incentive payment in 2011 and 2012; and a one-half percent incentive payment in
2013.
The focal point of the Get Connected program is an online portal –
www.GetRxConnected.com/TMA – where prescribers can follow a step-by-step process
designed to help them transition from paper-based prescribing to e-prescribing.
"Electronic prescribing is one of the first and most important steps a physician
can take to make health care safer for our patients and more efficient for our
practices,” said TMA president Josie R. Williams, MD, a nationally known expert
in patient safety and health care quality improvement.“ I urge all of our member
physicians to see how the Get Connected program can help them take this step."
Through the end of 2007, approximately 1,500 of the physicians in Texas were
e-prescribing. In the most recent ranking of all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
based on e-prescribing activity, Texas ranked number 30 in the nation.
E-prescribing replaces the need for handwritten, printed or faxed prescriptions
and is seen as a more accurate and efficient means of prescribing medications.
And because it is paperless, e-prescribing is also regarded as a secure
alternative to paper prescriptions which can be stolen, copied, forged and
otherwise manipulated.
In addition to the TMA, Get Connected is supported by:
the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
the American College of Cardiology (ACC)
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
the American Optometric Association (AOA)
the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
the American Urological Association (AUA)
and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
If you are a member of a state medical society or national provider organization
and would like to get more information about how your membership can Get
Connected for e-prescribing, please contact Kate Berry, executive director at
The Center for Improving Medication Management at kate.berry@SurescriptsRxHub.com.
Created under the auspices of The Center for Improving Medication Management
(founded by the AAFP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Humana Inc., Intel
Corporation, the MGMA and Surescripts-RxHub), www.GetRxConnected.com contains
urgent information and guidance for an estimated 150,000 prescribers located
throughout the U.S. that are currently using electronic medical record (EMR) and
other clinical software to fax prescriptions to pharmacies. Computer-generated
faxing of prescriptions not only prevents prescribers from achieving the gains
in practice efficiency and patient safety associated with e-prescribing, but
starting on January 1, 2009, all computer-generated prescriptions covered by the
Medicare Part D program must be transmitted electronically and not via
computer-generated fax. (Important Note to Prescribers Using EMRs: Most EMR
users believe that they already send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically
– i.e., they are unaware that it is far more likely that their EMR is generating
faxes that arrive on paper at the pharmacy’s fax machine. These
computer-generated, faxed prescriptions will not be in compliance with the new
Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) Part D regulations.)
Through www.GetRxConnected.com/TMA Texas prescribers and their staffs can find
out if the software brand and version they are using is certified to generate
e-prescriptions compliant with the National Council for Prescription Drug
Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT standard as required by the new Medicare regulations.
The SCRIPT standard facilitates the electronic transmission of prescriptions and
prescription-related information. Following the completion of a brief
self-assessment, visitors to www.GetRxConnected.com/TMA can receive a free,
personalized report that indicates the compliance status of their existing
software and that can be used to request an electronic connection to pharmacies
through their vendor.
The Get Connected program is equally intended for prescribers and practice
management professionals who have yet to invest in EMR or other clinical
software. The portal provides guidance on how to evaluate and acquire technology
that supports e-prescribing. www.GetRxConnected.com/TMA also helps prescribers
and practice management professionals to assess the financial impact of
e-prescribing using an interactive feature that allows them to calculate an
estimate of the time and resources their practice is currently dedicating to the
manual processing of prescriptions.
E-Prescribing: An Opportunity to Save Time, Dollars and Lives
There remains a sizable opportunity to increase the adoption and use of
e-prescribing nationwide. Although Surescripts-RxHub estimates that more than
100 million prescription transactions will be routed electronically in 2008,
that number represents only 7 percent of eligible prescriptions (see The
National Progress Report on E-Prescribing at www.surescripts.com/report). The
realization of e-prescribing’s full potential represents an unprecedented
opportunity to improve patient safety and the efficiency of the prescribing
process.
According to the Center for Information Technology Leadership, use of electronic
prescribing with an electronic connection to pharmacy and advanced
decision-support capabilities could help prevent 130,000 life-threatening
medication errors annually.
By eliminating paper from the prescribing process, and particularly by
automating prescription renewals, e-prescribing has been proven to offer
significant time savings by reducing prescription-related phone calls and faxes,
allowing prescribers and their staffs more time to care for their patients. A
study by MGMA’s Group Practice Research Network estimated that administrative
complexity related to prescriptions costs practices $15,700 a year for each
full-time physician – that does not even take into consideration the time and
cost of managing faxes.
# # #
About the Texas Medical Association
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than
43,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has
120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective
since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
About The Center for Improving Medication Management
The Center for Improving Medication Management serves as an industry resource by
gathering and disseminating best and worst practices related to technology
deployment for electronic medication management and for leveraging that
technology and connectivity to test innovative approaches to improve patient
adherence with prescribed medications. The Center was founded by the American
Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA),
Humana Inc., Intel Corporation, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
and Surescripts-RxHub. More information about The Center is available at
www.theCIMM.org.
Press Contacts:
Rob Cronin
For The Center for Improving Medication Management
917-414-5289
rob.cronin@surescripts.com
Amanda Denning
AAFP
913-906-6000, ext. 5223
adenning@aafp.org
Nancy McMurrey
AANP
512-276-5906
nmcmurrey@aanp.org
Susan Martin
AAP
847-434-7131
ssmartin@aap.org
Jane Howard
AAPA
703 836-2272 ext. 3502
jane@aapa.org
Amy Murphy
ACC
202-375-6476
amurphy@acc.org
Vicki Martinka
AOA (American Osteopathic Association)
312-202-8159
vmartinka@osteopathic.org
Susan Thomas
AOA (American Optometric Association)
314-983-4176
slthomas@aoa.org
Wendy Waldsachs Isett
AUA
410-689-3789
wisett@auanet.org
Liz Johnson
MGMA
303-799-1111, ext. 1347
eaj@mgma.com
Pam Udall
TMA
512-413-6807
pam.udall@texmed.com
ICERx.org Activated to Provide Emergency Access to Prescription Medication
Information for Hurricane Ike Evacuees
TAMPA, Fla. – (September 12, 2008) – In the wake of the President’s declaration
of a state of emergency, ICERx.org (In Case of Emergency prescription history
service) has been activated to provide licensed physicians and pharmacists
caring for Hurricane Ike evacuees with private, secure online access to
available medication history information for affected individuals. Armed with
this information, health care professionals will be able to effectively assist
in the coordination of care and safely renew prescriptions for evacuees, while
avoiding harmful prescription errors and potential drug interactions.
Prescription data is available only to U.S.-licensed physicians and pharmacists
who have been authenticated and registered on ICERx.org (www.icerx.org). To
register, licensed physicians and pharmacists should call 1-888-ICERX-50
(1-888-423-7950) and follow the appropriate prompts.
Through the system, authorized users will be able to securely view the following
information:
• A listing of prescription medications taken by the evacuee
• Quantity and day supply
• The pharmacy that filled the prescription
• The provider who wrote the prescription
• Drug information, such as indication and dosage, administration, and
interactions
The prescription history information is available from a variety of sources
participating in
ICERx.org, including community pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers and state
Medicaid programs.
ICERx.org is a public service initiative made possible through the collaborative
efforts of the
American Medical Association (AMA), Informed Decisions, the National Association
of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA),
Surescripts- RxHub, as well as government agencies.
Media Contact:
Liz Roop
(813) 960-5092, ext. 757
liz@npccs.com
Prime Therapeutics Connects Physicians to Mail Order Pharmacy through
Surescripts-RxHub Network
ST. PAUL - Prime Therapeutics, a thought leader in pharmacy benefit management,
announced today that it has completed certification with Surescripts-RxHub. This
certification will allow prescribers using Surescripts-RxHub certified
technology to send their patients prescriptions electronically to PrimeMail®,
Prime Therapeutics’ mail order pharmacy. In 2007 PrimeMail processed nearly 3.6
million prescriptions. By enabling electronic access to mail order operations,
the value and benefits associated with paperless prescribing will be available
to millions more patients. Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) increases
patient safety by eliminating illegible prescriptions and allowing for real-time
safety checks. It also reduces the cost of health care delivery by providing
prescribers with secure access to real-time
patient eligibility, formulary and medication history information at the point
of care and allows them to electronically transmit the prescription to the
patient’s choice of mail order or retail pharmacy. “Our partnership with
Surescripts-RxHub is part of a broader set of programs to transform health care
by providing timely information to physicians which ultimately benefits their
patients,” said Keith McFalls, Vice President of Mail Operations at Prime.
“E-prescribing is a gateway to increased physician use of health information
technology. E-prescribing can improve patient
safety and even save lives by helping to eliminate harmful drug events.”
Prime Therapeutics Connects Physicians to Mail Order Pharmacy through
Surescripts-RxHub With secure access to patient information more readily
available, the process of prescribing medications is measurably improved by:
• providing prescribers with added knowledge of their patients;
• enabling a more informed choice of therapy;
• ensuring that the medicine intended by the prescriber is actually and
accurately
communicated to the pharmacy;
• allowing patients to weigh important economic considerations within a range of
appropriate clinical options before a prescription is written; and
• adds convenience to the overall process.
“Surescripts-RxHub is very excited to welcome Prime Therapeutics’ mail order
service to our network,” stated Tom Groom, Senior Vice President for
Surescripts-RxHub. “The continued support for electronic prescribing from payer
organizations will only help drive the adoption and utilization by the
prescriber communities across the nation.”
About Prime Therapeutics
Prime Therapeutics is a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated to
providing innovative, clinically-based, cost effective pharmacy solutions for
clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services nationwide to
approximately 14.6 million covered lives, its client base includes Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and thirdparty administrators.
Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics is collectively owned
by ten Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those
plans. Learn more at
www.primetherapeutics.com.
Contacts: Sheila Thelemann
Sr. Manager, Public Relations and
Corporate Communications
Prime Therapeutics
651.414.1863
sthelemann@primetherapeutics.com
Chris Van Horrick
Director, Marketing and Communications
Surescripts-RxHub
651.855.3078
chris.vanhorrick@SurescriptsRxHub.com
MedImpact to Deliver e-Prescribing Solutions with Surescripts-RxHub
Solution Serves Patients by Strengthening Capability in Health Information
Technology Field
October 14, 2008 11:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MedImpact, the largest Pharmacy Benefits Manager
(PBM) that does not sell drugs, will launch an electronic prescribing platform
with Surescripts-RxHub, a leader in securely connecting physician e-prescribing
tools with critical data sources for member eligibility, formulary and drug
history information.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that more than 1.5 million Americans
are
injured every year by medication errors. In the same report, the IOM recommended
that all prescriptions be written and received electronically by the year 2010.
As members of the Center for Health Transformation (CHT), MedImpact and
Surescripts-RxHub collaborated with CHT over the past year in the development of
a
white paper that communicates the benefits of e-prescribing to the health care
industry. Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation,
congratulated MedImpact and Surescripts-RxHub for developing a flexible
e-prescribing solution that will be delivered to its clients, “With the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating that e-prescribing could eliminate
as many as two million harmful drug errors every year, this is a very important
step that can save lives as well as money for countless Americans.”
“MedImpact will continue to help Surescripts-RxHub advance electronic
prescribing
which reduces the human error that can lead to harmful drug interactions,” said
Dale Brown, senior vice president for MedImpact. “In addition,
Surescripts-RxHub’s
technology platform provides flexibility for our clients and important
capabilities for
electronic health records such as a master patient index for more than 200
million
Americans. MedImpact will leverage and enhance these capabilities for the
benefit of our clients who wish to provide this service and for the benefit of
the patients they serve.”
As a clinical utility for the health care industry, Surescripts-RxHub enables
physicians to have a single point of contact for connectivity to PBM data
sources. The company certifies technology vendors and PBMs on its
infrastructure, enabling the delivery of patient pharmacy eligibility, patient
pharmacy eligibility, formulary and medication history information directly to
physicians at the point of care.
“Surescripts-RxHub welcomes MedImpact as a PBM with a strong commitment to
improving patient care through advancements in health information technology.
MedImpact serves more than 30 million members nationwide, and brings a unique
perspective that will strengthen and promote the e-prescribing experience for
payors and for patients,” said JP Little, Co-CEO at Surescripts-RxHub.
About MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc., is the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit
management (PBM) company that does not sell drugs. Founded in 1989 and based in
San Diego, California, the company currently serves more than 30 million
individuals nationwide. MedImpact clients include Fortune 500 corporations and
employers, unions, managed care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party
administrators, as well as local, state and federal employee programs. MedImpact
bases its success on delivering innovative products and services designed to
lower overall client cost while increasing member satisfaction and quality of
care.
www.medimpact.com
About Surescripts-RxHub
Surescripts-RxHub gives healthcare providers secure, electronic access to
precription information that can save their patients’ lives and reduce the cost
of healthcare for all. Available during emergencies or routine care,
Surescripts-RxHub’s network is used by physicians, physician assistants and
nurse practitioners nationwide to exchange health information and prescribe
without paper. The next time you or anyone you know goes for a checkup and your
healthcare provider takes out their pad and pen to write a prescription, take
the opportunity to ask them for an e-prescription instead. For more information
go to www.SurescriptsRxHub.com.
About the Center for Health Transformation The Center for Health Transformation
is a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to
creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves
money for all Americans. For information about the e-prescribing white paper go
to www.healthtransformation.net
Contacts
MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
Gayle Griffithe, 888-356-6406
gayle@iacunato-mclane.com
Health Care Stakeholders Release “How-To” Guide to Help Clinicians Switch from
Paper to E-Prescribing Systems
Challenges, Opportunities Await Providers Investing in New Technology
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 7, 2008 – The eHealth Initiative (eHI), in collaboration
with the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family
Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the Medical Group Management
Association, and The Center for Improving Medication Management (The Center),
issued the first comprehensive, multi-stakeholder-informed “how-to” guide to
help clinicians make informed decisions about how and when to transition from
paper to electronic prescribing systems. A Clinician’s Guide to Electronic
Prescribing was released at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
National e-Prescribing Conference in Boston today and follows the agency’s
decision earlier this year to offer financial incentives--beginning in 2009--to
providers who adopt e-prescribing.
“We know e-prescribing is an efficient way to improve health care delivery,
decrease medication errors, and prevent potentially dangerous drug
interactions,” said eHI Chief Executive Officer Janet Marchibroda. “However, the
transition from a paper to electronic system is quite challenging. This guide is
meant to remove some of the mystery around e-prescribing and help physicians
begin to realize some of the many benefits e-prescribing can bring to their
patients and their practices.”
Developed with the strategic guidance of a multi-stakeholder Steering Group
comprised of clinicians, consumers, employers, health plans, and pharmacies, and
in partnership with four major medical associations, the guide is designed to
meet the needs of two target audiences: The first section of the guide targets
office-based clinicians who are new to the concept of e-prescribing, and who
seek a basic understanding of what e-prescribing is, how it works, what its
benefits and challenges are, and the current environment impacting its
widespread adoption. The second section of the guide targets office-based
clinicians who are ready to move forward and bring e-prescribing into their
practices. It presents fundamental questions and steps to follow in planning
for, selecting and implementing an e-prescribing system. The guide also provides
a list of key references and resources readers may consult to help make the
transition to e-prescribing as smooth as possible.
“E-prescribing holds great promise for improvements in patient safety and
advances in care coordination, and the AMA is committed to helping physicians
adopt this technology,” said American Medical Association Board Member, Steven
J. Stack, M.D. “This guide is an important resource for physicians and can aid
in the adoption and implementation of e-prescribing.”
“With all the momentum toward e-prescribing and its accelerated growth, it is
important to assist physicians and other prescribers to ensure that
e-prescribing is implemented well in order for the full range of benefits can be
achieved,” said Steven E. Waldren, MD, MS, Director, Center for Health-IT at the
American Academy of Family Physicians and The Center for Improving Medication
Management Board member. “This Guide provides substantial detail not only on how
to get started but what challenges to expect and how to overcome them.”
In June, eHI and The Center for Improving Medication Management released a
report detailing the latest figures on e-prescribing, including the progress
made, the obstacles that remain, and recommendations for how different
stakeholders in the system can support the migration from paper-based
prescriptions to an electronic system. Among the findings from the report were
the following:
More than 35 million prescription transactions were sent electronically in 2007,
a 170 percent increase over the previous year.
At the end of 2007, at least 35,000 prescribers were actively e-prescribing.
Estimates indicate there will be at least 85,000 active users of e-prescribing
by the end of 2008.
While e-prescribing is growing rapidly, the adoption level at the end of 2007
represents only about six percent of physicians.
Only two percent of eligible prescriptions were transmitted electronically in
2007.
The biggest challenges to widespread adoption of e-prescribing by providers are
financial burdens, workflow changes, continued needs for improved connectivity
and technology, and the need for reconciled medication histories.
Accompanying the June report were corresponding guides that offer practical
information for health care payers to support effective adoption, and for
consumers to better understand e-prescribing’s benefits and use.
The full prescriber guide and the earlier e-prescribing reports are available at
www.ehealthinitiative.org.
# # #
About eHealth Initiative and its Foundation
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated
organizations whose missions are to drive improvements in the quality, safety,
and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology. eHI
engages multiple stakeholders, including clinicians, consumers, employers,
health plans, health IT suppliers, hospitals and other providers, laboratories,
pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, and state and local leaders to reach
agreement on and drive the adoption of common principles, policies and best
practices for improving health and health care through information technology.
For more information, visit
www.ehealthinitiative.org.
About The Center for Improving Medication Management
The Center for Improving Medication Management serves as an industry resource by
gathering and disseminating best and worst practices related to technology
deployment for electronic medication management and for leveraging that
technology and connectivity to test innovative approaches to improve patient
adherence with prescribed medications. The Center was founded by the American
Academy of Family Physicians, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Humana Inc.,
Intel Corporation, the Medical Group Management Association, and
Surescripts-RxHub. For more information, visit
www.theCIMM.org.
About American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) helps doctors help patients by uniting
physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional, public health
and advocacy issues in medicine. Working together, the AMA's quarter of a
million physician and medical student members are playing an active role in
shaping the future of medicine. For more information, visit
www.ama-assn.org.
About the American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 93,000 physicians and medical
students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary
care.
Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is
215 million office visits each year – nearly 48 million more than the next
medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide the majority of care for
America’s underserved and rural populations.
In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical
specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex,
family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full
spectrum of ages. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal
patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
To learn more about the AAFP and about the specialty of family medicine, please
visit www.aafp.org.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians (ACP) is a national organization of
internists - physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection and
treatment of illnesses in adults. ACP is the largest medical-specialty
organization and second-largest physician group in the United States. Its
membership of 126,000 includes internists, internal medicine subspecialists, and
medical students, residents, and fellows. ACP's mission is to enhance the
quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and
professionalism in the practice of medicine. For more information, visit
www.acponline.org.
About the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is the nation's principal voice
for the medical group practice profession, with 21,500 members who lead and
manage more than 13,500 organizations in which almost 270,000 practice. MGMA's
mission is to continually improve the performance of medical group practice
professionals and the organizations they represent. For more information, visit
www.mgma.com.
Contact:
Priscilla Ring Vanderveer
202/778-1036
pvanderveer@apcoworldwide.com
Prescription Solutions to Provide E-Prescribing Services Through
Surescripts-RxHub
E-Prescribing Will Allow for Reduced Prescription Errors and Increased Safety
for Consumers
Irvine , Calif. – December 9, 2008 – Prescription Solutions, a pharmacy benefits
management (PBM) organization and a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company,
announced today that it has completed certification with Surescripts-RxHub, and
has entered into an agreement for e-prescribing services. The new relationship
supports Prescription Solutions’ dedication to providing electronic prescribing
or “e-prescribing” on behalf of its clients. The e-prescribing program engages
the mail service pharmacy in addition to retail pharmacy partners.
“Our e-prescribing initiative is quickly moving forward and we’ve created a
comprehensive e-prescribing program for all of our partners,” said Ed Feaver,
president of Prescription Solutions. “E-prescribing is a valuable tool to
promote patient safety and encourage generic substitution, and as we continue to
work closely with physicians, we look forward to their growing engagement in
this very important program for our customers.”
The connection to Surescripts-RxHub allows physicians who e-prescribe using
certified technology applications to electronically access valuable real-time
pharmacy and payer information before prescriptions are written, thereby
reducing errors and increasing physician effectiveness. Before a physician or
provider prepares an e-prescription, eligibility and formulary information will
be provided through the certified application. With patient consent, medication
history can also be provided. When the e-prescription is ready, the connection
to Surescripts-RxHub allows the prescriber to electronically transmit the
e-prescription to a pharmacy of the patient’s choice.
“The addition of Prescription Solutions to the Surescripts-RxHub network is
another important step towards promoting the value and benefits that patients,
prescribers and pharmacists gain through e-prescribing,” said Tom Groom, senior
vice president of business development at Surescripts-RxHub.
Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) increases patient safety by eliminating
illegible prescriptions and allowing for real-time safety checks. The Institute
of Medicine (IOM) has recommended that all prescriptions be written and received
electronically by the year 2010.
About Prescription Solutions:
Prescription Solutions is an innovative pharmacy benefit management company
managing the prescription drug benefit of commercial, Medicare and other
governmental health plans, as well as those of employers and unions. A
UnitedHealth Group company, Prescription Solutions serves members through a
national network of 60,000 community pharmacies and state-of-the-art mail
service pharmacies in Carlsbad, California, and Overland Park, Kansas, which
have both earned the prestigious Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (VIPPS®)
accreditation by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®). The
company was recently ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Mail Order
Pharmacies” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 National Pharmacy StudySM, as
well as being named by WilsonRx® as the #1 National Top-Tier PBM, and #1
National Mail Order Pharmacy for customer satisfaction two years in a row.
Prescription Solutions also won URAC’s 2008 Best Practices for Consumer
Empowerment and Protection Award in the PBM category. Additional information can
be found at
www.prescriptionsolutions.com.
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company
dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis,
Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services
through six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice,
OptumHealth, Ingenix, and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of
businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals
nationwide.
About Surescripts-RxHub
Surescripts-RxHub gives healthcare providers secure, electronic access to
prescription information that can save their patients’ lives and reduce the cost
of healthcare for all. Available during emergencies or routine care,
Surescripts-RxHub’s network is used by physicians, physician assistants and
nurse practitioners nationwide to exchange health information and prescribe
without paper. The next time you or anyone you know goes for a checkup and your
healthcare provider takes out their pad and pen to write a prescription, take
the opportunity to ask them for an e-prescription instead. For more information,
please visit www.SurescriptsRxHub.com
.
Contact:
Theresa Shin
Prescription Solutions
949-442-8051
theresa.shin@prescriptionsolutions.com
Chris Van Horrick
Surescripts-RxHub
651-855-3078
chris.vanhorrick@SurescriptsRxHub.com
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