E-prescribing continues to be popular with state and federal officials, with a growing number either funding new initiatives or demanding that affiliated physicians get on board. Among the most recent players to take up the e-prescribing cause is Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), whose administration now requires doctors contracting with the state's employee health plan to enter and submit prescriptions electronically. By 2011, doctors who have state employees as patients must also use e-prescribing by 2001.
E-prescribing is also getting steadfast support from pharmacy benefit companies like Medco Health Solutions, CVS Caremark and Express Scripts, along with e-prescribing vendors like Allscripts, which is giving away software to physicians. In the mean time, however, some providers are pushing back, arguing that demands for e-prescribing participation are "unfunded mandates." However, their protests don't seem to be slowing the train much.
To get more background on this trend:
- read this article from the Chicago Tribune
Related Articles:
Study: E-prescribing cuts med errors 66 percent. Report
E-prescribing apps still dogged by problems. Article
Ohio health system rolls out e-prescribing. Report
NH governor backs e-prescribing. Report
Here's proof: E-prescribing saves bucks, lives. Report