Drug Topics - March 3, 2008 - (Page 7)

7 Technology Medco pushes e-prescribing in new pilot Pharmacy benefit manager Medco is launching an eprescribing pilot program for physicians treating beneficiaries of its Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Medco will initially provide RxNT e-prescription software and training to 500 physicians and track generic drug dispensing, formulary compliance, and generated safety alerts. The results will be compared with a control group. Medco hopes to expand the program to 2,000 doctors after a six-month period. Medco is currently involved in the Southeast Michigan ePrescribing Initiative program developed by General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Since 2005, approximately 2,700 participating physicians have generated more than six million e-prescriptions. report warns that without an overarching strategy, HHS will not meet the president’s goal of attaining the widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records. Previously, GAO had pointed out a lack of an IT strategy at HHS. In the new report, GAO did acknowledge that HHS has made progress on various IT issues, including electronic records, standardization, and networking. NCPDP weighing standards for eMARs in long-term care What standards should be set up for electronic medication administration records (eMARs) in long-term care? The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs held a focus group on this subject recently in Crystal City, Va. The focus group of 35 people concluded that an implementation guide is called for. Rachelle Spiro, R.Ph., of Spiro Consulting, who led the group of information technology vendors and others, said what is needed is “basic communication between a facility’s clinical system with an eMAR (if it is not integrated already)… and also communication between the facility and/or eMAR with the pharmacy.” The issue was to be brought before an NCPDP work group on Feb. 22. Hutchinson leaves SureScripts for Prematics Kevin Hutchinson has left as CEO of SureScripts to head Prematics, an e-prescribing service company. Prematics offers physician-oriented e-prescribing software. Hutchinson is a member of the American Health Information Community, an advisory body that makes recommendations to the Secretary of the De- Kevin Hutchinson partment of Health & Human has joined Prematics Services on how to accelerate the development and adoption of health information technology. Rick Ratliff has replaced Hutchinson as the acting CEO of SureScripts. In 2001, SureScripts was formed by the National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores to develop an e-prescribing platform for pharmacies. Currently, more than 90% of pharmacies are connected to the SureScripts platform for receiving e-prescriptions. Managed Care Express Scripts report finds that drug spending rose in 2006 A new report by Express Scripts finds that more drugs are being consumed in this country. From 2000 to 2006, the number of prescriptions per person rose from 10.8 to 14.3, and the number of people using at least one prescription increased from 67% to 74%. The study also found that spending for antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs is linked to rising obesity rates, with West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas as the leading states. The St. Louis-based pharmacy benefit manager said that its report, called Geographic Variation in Prescription Utilization Study, is based on an analysis of a random sample of 2.2 million patients in 2000 and three million in 2006 enrolled in a commercial plan. HHS lacks IT strategy, says GAO Despite progress in a number of areas, the Department of Health & Human Services lacks a comprehensive health technology strategy, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office .The New Philadelphia PBM seeking pharmacists for growth Ever heard of a pharmacy benefit manager called FutureScripts ? It’s a new PBM based in Philadelphia. Launched in October 2006, the >>> NEWS Roundup http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Technology/GAO-questions-security-ofe-records/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/423923 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Technology/GAO-questions-security-ofe-records/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/423923 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Technology/GAO-questions-security-ofe-records/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/423923 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/E-prescription-initiative-reduced-drug-interaction/Article-Standard/Article/detail/469270 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/E-prescription-initiative-reduced-drug-interaction/Article-Standard/Article/detail/469270 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/E-prescription-initiative-reduced-drug-interaction/Article-Standard/Article/detail/469270 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/E-prescription-initiative-reduced-drug-interaction/Article-Standard/Article/detail/469270 http://www.express-scripts.com/ourcompany/news/outcomesresearch/onlinepublications/ http://www.express-scripts.com/ourcompany/news/outcomesresearch/onlinepublications/ http://www.futurescripts.com http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08499t.pdf

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Drug Topics - March 3, 2008

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