Drug Topics - June 16, 2008 - (Page 41)

www.drugtopics.com JUNE 16, 2008 DRUG TOPICS 41 Technology R.Ph.s support e-prescribing rules but see roadblocks to implementation Anthony Vecchione he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a final rule in early April establishing Medicare Part D e-prescribing standards for four types of information: formulary and benefits; medication history; fill status notification; and identification of individual healthcare providers (see sidebar). The new eprescribing standards will take effect on April 1, 2009. The pharmacy community believes that the new rules are a step in the right direction. But there are some pharmacists who say that there are still lots of obstacles to overcome before e-prescribing replaces the traditional paper-based prescription as the new standard. Currently, more than 40,000 pharmacies have e-prescription technology in place, but only about 2% of physicians are writing prescriptions electronically. T to recognize the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT Standard version 10.5 as a future standard to be implemented by 2010. A work in progress “You’re moving in the right direction with the CMS rules,” said Charles Sewell, VP of government affairs for the National Community Pharmacists Association. However, “I don’t think it’s going to make e-prescribing more universal out there in the marketplace.” Sewell noted that with e-prescribing, there is a cost associated with it based on every transaction, “and that can be fairly significant. What they are discussing in Congress right now is paying for the doctors’ participation. We think that it takes two to make this equation work, both the doctor and the pharmacist. They should be considering some kind of grant or tax credit to cover the transaction cost that pharmacies alone are having to pay for e-prescribing.” Summing up, Sewell said, “We have a long way to go to make e-prescribing the method of choice in getting our prescriptions. It’s a work in progress.” Voicing concerns The National Association of Chain Drug Stores would like to see e-prescribing become commonplace, but it has some concerns about the CMS rule. For instance, NACDS supports the adoption of the medication history standard, but urges that its use not be mandated at this time. NACDS believes that more experience THE AUTHOR is a writer based in New Jersey. needs to be accrued before the industry would New e-prescribing rules at a glance be able to implement this he rule adopts four standards for use in e-prescribing: part of the 8.1 SCRIPT Formulary and benefits: This standard will allow doctors and other prescribers to Standard in a way that communicate with Part D sponsors about which drugs are covered by a Medicarewould not cause an uneligible individual’s prescription drug benefit plan. Prescribers can also learn which generic prescription drugs might offer lower-cost options for the individual. reasonable burden on the Medication history: This standard will allow doctors and other providers, as well pharmacy sector. as dispensers and Part D sponsors, to communicate among themselves about preRegarding the nascribed medications a beneficiary has taken or is taking, including those prescribed tional provider identifier, by other providers. This information can help reduce the number of adverse drug NACDS believes that events that result from drugs negatively interacting with other drugs a beneficiary is there should be allowalready taking, and can ensure that the doctor or other prescriber has the necessary ances for an alternative information about a beneficiary’s current prescription medications. identifier for prescribFill status notification: This standard will allow doctors and other providers to reers without an NPI. In ceive an electronic notice from the pharmacy or other dispenser telling them that a patient’s prescription has been picked up, not picked up, or has been partially terms of the compliance filled. These notifications can help healthcare providers monitor patients with date, NACDS said the chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, by providing an indicator as industry is already using to whether they are taking their medicines. SCRIPT version 8.1, so Provider identifier: The final rule requires providers, dispensers, and Part D sponthere should be no issues sors to use the National Provider Identifier (NPI) to identify individual healthcare with the proposed impleproviders in Part D e-prescribing transactions. Adoption of the NPI will speed mentation date. The asworkflows by eliminating call-backs by pharmacies to medical offices to verify the identity of individual prescribers. sociation has asked CMS T http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - June 16, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters Latebreakers in Depth Pharmacists Lose in Final ESRD Rule New Drug Helps Palliative Patients on Opioids Take Care of Business Oral Treatment Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Flare-ups Beware of Inflammatory Masses From Implantable Infusion Systems Safer Therapeutic Options Emerging for Atrial Fibrillation Congressional Committee Chair Calls for Action Against Hospital Infections This Software System Helps Hospitals Manage Anticoagulation Therapy Rx Care Community Practice JP at Large Self-Care Cover Story Long-Term Care Chains and Business Technology Technology Update Continuing Education New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint

Drug Topics - June 16, 2008

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