Electronic Prescribing Initiative Launched in Southeast Michigan to Improve Medication Safety and Efficiency

Strategic Insights -

A comprehensive electronic prescribing initiative aimed at reducing medication errors and enhancing healthcare quality and cost-effectiveness has been launched in Southeast Michigan. The program, spearheaded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, brings together automobile manufacturers General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and DaimlerChrysler Corporation, along with pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions, Inc., and the Henry Ford Health System's Health Alliance Plan. This collaborative effort aims to promote the adoption of electronic prescribing technology among physicians, resulting in improved patient care and reduced healthcare costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 6,000 physicians from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Blue Preferred Plus network for autoworkers in Southeast Michigan have been invited to sign up for the initiative.
  • The program will provide onsite educational sessions on e-Prescribing, courtesy of Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
  • Physicians participating in the initiative will be eligible for incentives and discounts from the auto manufacturers.
  • Ten Medco clinical pharmacists will make office visits to educate physicians on the benefits of electronic prescribing.
  • The initiative aims to reduce medication errors, improve healthcare quality, and decrease costs by leveraging technology and promoting collaboration among healthcare stakeholders.
  • The Henry Ford Medical Group, with over 800 members, has already implemented e-Prescribing and has issued over 19,000 prescriptions to date.
  • RxHub, LLC is providing the technology infrastructure to support the secure and bi-directional exchange of patient-specific prescribing information between physicians and pharmacy benefit managers.
  • The implementation of electronic prescribing technology could eliminate up to 2 million harmful drug events each year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
  • A 2003 Medco study found that the implementation of an electronic prescribing system with health plan coverage messaging led to a 42% reduction in pharmacy calls to the physicians' office and a 30% reduction in calls related to prescription illegibility.

Statistics:

  • 6,000 physicians from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Blue Preferred Plus network have been invited to participate in the initiative.
  • Over 17,000 physicians will be eligible to join the program when it is fully implemented.
  • 10 Medco clinical pharmacists will make office visits to educate physicians on the benefits of electronic prescribing.
  • The Henry Ford Medical Group has issued over 19,000 prescriptions to date using e-Prescribing.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that the use of e-Prescribing technology could eliminate up to 2 million harmful drug events each year.
  • A 2003 Medco study found that electronic prescribing led to a 42% reduction in pharmacy calls to the physicians' office and a 30% reduction in calls related to prescription illegibility.

Sources:

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan press release, April 22
  • Medco Health Solutions, Inc. press release, April 22
  • Henry Ford Health System press release, April 22
  • General Motors Corporation press release, April 22
  • Ford Motor Company press release, April 22
  • DaimlerChrysler Corporation press release, April 22
  • RxHub, LLC press release, April 22
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), various publications