FL health plans lead e-prescribing effort

Florida has become another front in the battle to foster e-prescribing adoption, with a group of health plans banding together to get the job done. The group, ePrescribe Florida, is led by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and AvMed. Other participants include CIGNA, Aetna, the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, Florida Pharmacy Association, Florida Medical Association, Florida Hospital Association and vendors RxHub and SureScripts. The group's goal is to bring pharmacy chains, state and regional health plans and relevant technology vendors into the e-prescribing game. In addition, group members are reaching out to members of Congress to educate them on the benefits of e-prescribing. Given the publicity that existing state e-prescribing efforts are receiving, it's likely they won't have to work that hard.

To get more background on this initiative:
- read this Jacksonville Business Journal article
- read the group's launch press release

PLUS: Florida lawmakers are considering a handful of bills that would create a statewide health information network and EMR. Article