Adoption of electronic prescribing has increased significantly since 2006, but further action must be taken to continue its growth, according to e-prescribing network Surescripts’ annual National Progress Report on E-Prescribing, Healthcare IT News reports.
Report Details, Findings
The report details the status of e-prescribing adoption and use in the U.S. from 2006 through 2008.
According to the report, more than 100,000 prescribers now are transmitting e-prescriptions (Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 4/22).
The report found that there were 74,000 active e-prescribers by the end of 2008, compared with 36,000 at the end of 2007 and 16,000 in 2006 (Surescripts release) (.pdf).
Meanwhile, the use of three critical e-prescribing components — electronic prescription benefit, history and routing — increased by 61% in the first quarter of 2009.
The report attributes the increase in e-prescribing to three factors:
- The attention e-prescribing received at the federal and state policy level;
- National programs that spur e-prescribing and offer practical tools to help the industry in adoption; and
- The adoption of e-prescribing by important groups, such as payers, subscribers and pharmacies.
Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts, said, “In the past two years, the U.S. has gone from 19,000 to 103,000 prescribers routing prescriptions electronically — punctuated by 39% sequential growth in prescriber adoption in the first quarter of this year.” He added that “while this growth shows clear evidence that the steps taken by policymakers, prescribers, payers, pharmacies and others are having a positive impact, swift and specific action is required for the U.S. to achieve mainstream adoption and use of e-prescribing.”
Surescripts’ Recommendations
Surescripts offered five recommendations to ensure the growth of e-prescribing use continues and to further realize cost reductions and improvements in safety and efficiency:
- Continue work with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to pass regulations that permit controlled substances to be electronically prescribed in a way that is workable and scalable;
- Ensure the term “meaningful use” under the economic stimulus package requires the use of e-prescribing;
- Close gaps in e-prescribing participation among payers, state Medicaid programs and independent pharmacies;
- Promote awareness across the industry and encourage the use of e-prescribing, including prescription benefit, prescription history and prescription routing; and
- Provide education, financial incentives and implementation assistance to all prescribers, specifically focusing on the needs of small- and medium-sized practices (Healthcare IT News, 4/22).
