Reports Examine E-Script Issues

HDM Breaking News, June 11, 2008

Two new reports stress the benefits of electronic prescribing and the need to accelerate physician adoption of the technology.

One of the reports, from the eHealth Initiative and The Center for Improving Medication Management, summarizes the state of e-prescribing during the past four years and makes recommendations for expanding its use.

More than 35 million electronic prescriptions were sent last year, according to the report, “Electronic Prescribing: Becoming Mainstream Practice,” which was a 170% increase over 2006. The report cites estimates that there were at least 35,000 active e-prescribers at the end of 2007 and that number will rise by 85,000 by year-end. Still, only 2% of eligible prescriptions were routed electronically in 2007.

The report examines such obstacles to e-prescribing as financial burdens, workflow changes, connectivity issues and the need for better medication histories. Recommendations include replicating and expanding successful incentive programs, eliminating the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ban on e-prescribing for controlled substances, and creating a public-private e-prescribing advisory board. The report is available at ehealthinitiative.org.

The other new report is a white paper from The Center for Health Transformation in Washington that examines the benefits of the technology and ways to overcome barriers to adoption.

Center members that collaborated on the paper are: Allscripts LLC, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Group Association, Availity LLC, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Covisint, Chrysler LLC, HealthVision, InterComponentWare, MedImpact Healthcare Systems Inc.; Microsoft Corp., MinuteClinic, Misys Healthcare Systems, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, Rx Hub LLC, SureScripts, UnitedHealthcare, WellPoint Inc. and Zix Corp.

The report is available at healthtransformation.net.

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