CVS Caremark, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J. reaches 5.5 million e-prescriptions
WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS Caremark and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey have reached 5.5 million e-prescriptions since 2004, making it one of the largest single-payer e-prescribing initiatives in the country.
Furthermore, in 2008, physicians taking part in the program wrote nearly 2 million prescriptions, a 20% increase compared with 2007.
“Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is a leader in the e-prescribing movement,” stated Dr. Troyen Brennan, CVS Caremark’s chief medical officer and EVP. “We see the New Jersey provider community as an industry bellwether in using technology to improve safety and compliance for their patients. We will continue to use technology to innovate and increase our ability to share critical information with patients and their providers to encourage discussions about their health care.”
There are more than 1,000 prescribers in New Jersey currently using CVS Caremark?s proprietary iScribe e-prescribing system. There are another 2,500 prescribers accessing e-prescribing services, either through a standalone handheld or Web-based e-prescribing tool such as iScribe, or as a component of their electronic medical record through a hospital or medical system.
“The highest prescribers in our network are using iScribe for 75% to 80% of their prescriptions. Across the spectrum of prescribers that we support, we are driving to industry-leading usage levels. That translates to significant savings and safety benefits for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey patients,”stated Dr. Richard Popiel, chief medical officer and VP, Horizon BCBSNJ.
A recent study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimated savings from e-prescribing at $845,000 per 100,000 patients, based on a 20% utilization level of prescribers.
IScribe e-prescribing allows prescribers to send prescriptions securely and directly to the patient?s pharmacy of choice from either a handheld PDA or desktop computer. It also provides the prescriber with generic and formulary coverage and alternative information, assisting the physician in selecting the most cost-effective medication for their patients. Physicians can check for potentially harmful drug interactions at the point of prescribing, or follow-up with patients when iScribe alerts them to unfilled prescriptions.