American College of Cardiology

ACC e-Prescribing
Minimum Functional Requirements Criteria

Summary
This page provides the minimum functional criteria recommended by ACC for its members interested in using an e-Prescribing application. These criteria must be met by vendors who wish to be a participant in ACC e-Prescribing Initiative.

Introduction
In order to promote and facilitate adoption of e-Prescribing among its members, the American College of Cardiology has launched an ACC e-Prescribing Program. The program includes the following tools that are available to our members online:

1. Links to e-Prescribing vendors with whom we have been in contact that meet ACC’s minimum criteria to participate in the e-Prescribing Initiative.
2. Highlighted information and links to e-Prescribing vendors that are participating in the e-Prescribing Initiative and are offering ACC member discounts and other services (such as summary data).
3. Information and resources about e-Prescribing through ACC’s participation in the Get Connected e-Prescribing campaign.

For the purposes of this initiative, ACC defines e-Prescribing as any software solution for managing the prescribing of medications that includes bi-directional connectivity for electronically transferring reliable prescription information between the prescribing physician and the dispenser. This does not include software solutions that either print paper prescriptions and / or fax prescriptions that do not also have bi-directional connectivity. However, note that e-Prescribing solutions must also have the capability of printing paper prescriptions for medications that cannot be prescribed electronically (e.g., controlled substances). In general, any e-Prescribing solution should operate over the Surescripts and RxHub networks. SureScripts operates the Pharmacy Health Information Exchange™, which facilitates the secure electronic transmission of prescription information between physicians and pharmacists. RxHub manages the RxHub National Patient Health Information Network™ which electronically routes up-to-date patient-specific medication history and pharmacy benefit information to caregivers at every point of care.

Minimum Functional Criteria

1. Product incorporates bi-directional connectivity with and electronically transmits prescription data through the SureScripts and RxHub networks.
   Electronic transmission reduces the risk of data entry error and improves efficiency of prescription fulfillment. Bi-directional connectivity also reduces risk of data entry error, facilitates prescription refill authorization, and reduces the level of effort by patients, pharmacies and physicians to process refill requests.
   
2. Product should be SureScripts and RxHub Certified.
   Being a SureScripts Certified Solutions Provider™ and RxHub certified ensures that physicians are able to send and receive supported electronic messages and that the solution is providing open choice for medication selection and dispensing location. Additionally, ensures that the vendor works in accordance with industry-accepted standards for the electronic exchange of prescription data between physicians and pharmacies.
   
3. Product incorporates drug-drug interaction checking.
   This functionality is critical for patient safety.
   
4. Product incorporates drug-allergy interaction checking.
   This functionality is critical for patient safety.
   
5. Product incorporates patient eligibility checking. When available, product should be capable of displaying current patient prescriptive benefit formulary information.
   This functionality is critical for patient convenience.
   
6. Product is established in the marketplace with a minimum install base of 100 active physician office environments currently using the product.
   This helps to ensure that the vendor has demonstrated viability in the marketplace and is large enough to provide customer support and business continuity at a level adequate for ACC members located throughout the U.S.
   
7. Product complies with existing and future CMS e-Prescribing standards, including the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 for the Part D prescription drug program.
   Providers that e-Prescribe for Part D beneficiaries are required to comply with any applicable final standards that are in effect.
   
8. Product complies with requirements and standards released by AHIC, HITSP, and CCHIT.
   As these organizations determine or refine e-Prescribing requirements for certification or other approval, it is expected that vendor will modify its product to be in compliance, if needed.
   
9. Product must comply with HIPAA regulations.
   This functionality is critical for patient privacy, system security, and transaction processing.
   
10. Product allows surrogate (i.e. nurses) prescription writing that can be electronically confirmed by the physician.
    This functionality prevents disruption of normal workflow.
    
11. Product can export historical patient data.
    In the event that a customer chooses to change vendors, the product must be able to export historical data in a generalized format that can be imported into other vendor products.
    
12. Product interfaces with major practice management (PM) systems.
    The ability to exchange data with the office PM system is essential for successful e-Prescribing software implementations. This interface reduces or eliminates duplicate data entry, thus improving accuracy and efficiency.