E-MEDS Act Would Require Electronic Prescribing in Medicare
WASHINGTON, May 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a strong signal of support, a broad group of consumers, employers, unions, and medical professionals have signed a letter to Congressional leaders urging passage of legislation that would require electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) in Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association announced today.
"This broad support for an e-prescribing requirement in Medicare underscores how important this issue is in the current Medicare debate," said PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt. "E-prescribing saves lives and money, and is the first step toward broader health IT reform."
Supporters of the "Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007" include:
Consumer/Labor Groups
· AARP
· AFL-CIO
· Consumers Union
· National Consumers League
· National Partnership for Women & Families
· SEIU
Business/Public Purchasers
AT&T
Caterpillar Inc.
Cisco Systems
Corporate Health Care Coalition
Dell
The Dow Chemical Company
EDS
The ERISA Industry Committee
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation
HR Policy Association
Information Technology Industry Council
National Business Group on Health
National Retail Federation
NCR Corporation
Oracle
Public Sector HealthCare Roundtable
Southeastern Michigan ePrescribing Initiative (SEMI)
Texas Instruments
UPS
Verizon Communications
Xerox Corporation
Prescription Drug Stakeholders
Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
Aetna
Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
BlueCross BlueShield Association
CIGNA
CVS Caremark
Coalition for a Competitive Pharmaceutical Market
Express Scripts, Inc.
Generic Pharmaceutical Association
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
Mylan Inc.
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
Teva Pharmaceuticals
United Health Group
WellPoint
Medical Professionals
· American Medical Group Association
The bipartisan "Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-MEDS) Act of 2007" would require e-prescribing in Medicare. The E-MEDS Act was introduced by Senate Finance Committee Members John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), and enjoys support from 12 additional co-sponsors, including Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), John Sununu (R-NH), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-Penn.) and Jon Porter (R-Nev.), and currently has 29 total co-sponsors.
Copy of letter available at www.pcmanet.org
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PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.
SOURCE Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
