American College of Cardiology

e-Prescribing Benefits

What is e-Prescribing?
Electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) is computer software that allows a clinician to create prescriptions via a PDA (i.e., PalmPilot, Pocket PC device), desktop computer, or cell phone. The e-prescription can be printed and immediately given to the patient, or electronically transmitted directly to the patient’s pharmacy.

Why add e-Prescribing to your practice?

Safety and convenience:

• Medication safety—automated drug interaction checking for new and refill prescriptions.

• Increase practice efficiency—reduces time spent on prescription management.

• Patient convenience—prescriptions can be sent directly to pharmacies.

• Clinician convenience—perform refills or create new prescriptions anywhere you have access to the internet.

Save time and money:

• E-prescribing with pharmacy interoperability can significantly reduce the $10,000 spent annually per physician on phone calls with pharmacies related to prescription refills. - Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
  

• Prescription refill management costs $50,000 a year/per practice and that practices spend on average 4.78 to 4.92 hours/day managing refills. Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) e-Prescribing pilots found that the average time spent per day on renewals was cut in half. - SureScripts

U.S. Government is pressing for e-Prescribing:
On July 15, 2008, Congress passed H.R. 6331, “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).” Starting January 1, 2009, qualified practices can receive a 2% bonus payment from CMS. Click here for more details.