The integration will enable physicians when prescribing a medication to access and give to the patient a coupon either discounting the price or covering the co-pay of the prescription. Such coupons can improve the medication adherence rate, according to the vendors. Increased first-fill adherence of a medication also can improve adherence rates in the future.
Surescripts, operator of a national electronic prescribing network, reports that the number of physicians electronically prescribing has tripled in the past two years. Physicians Interactive, with a network of 900,000 health care professionals, also has partnerships for eCoupons or other services with Allscripts and McKesson, and expects to announce other vendor partnerships this year.
