e-Prescribing

Surescripts, the Arlington, Va.-based provider of the U.S.’ largest network for ePrescribing, announced the 10 states with highest rate of electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) use in 2011. Minnesota captured the top ranking in what is Surescripts seventh annual “Safe-Rx Awards.” Rankings determined by an analysis of data from Surescripts that measures ePrescribing use by physicians, pharmacies, and payers in each state.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has sent out a note reminding its physicians that June 30, 2012 is the deadline to report on at least 10 electronic scripts to avoid the 2013 Medicare e-prescribing program penalty. Physicians who aren’t able to get 10 electronic scripts should apply for a hardship exemption, which AMA says will have to be applicable to their particular case before the June 30, 2012 deadline.

I find it ironic that after investing money and effort in an EMR implementation, many organizations are still handing out paper forms to collect history, insurance updates and HIPAA acknowledgements.

Walgreens will use Surescripts’ (Arlington, Va.) clinical interoperability services to electronically deliver patient data directly to primary care providers to improve the coordination of care. All 7,800 Walgreens and Duane Reade pharmacies and 350 Take Care Clinics nationwide will use the Surescripts network to deliver immunization records to the patient's primary care provider. Additionally, Walgreens will also use the Surescripts network to provide immunization reporting to state and local public health agencies, and Take Care Clinic patient summaries to the patient's primary care provider.

Electronic prescribing, known as ePrescribing, is growing steadily in California and is potentially increasing the safety of the prescribing process, according to a new report from Cal eConnect, a non-profit which serves governance for California’s health information exchange (HIE). About 25 percent of the state’s physicians are sending prescriptions electronically, the report estimates, compared with three percent in 2007. At the same time, just 16 percent of eligible prescriptions are routed electronically, despite the fact that most community pharmacies are set up for ePrescribing.