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Community Pharmacy Groups Form SureScript Systems to Provide Electronic Connectivity Link Between Prescribers and Pharmacists
FORT WORTH, TX (July 7, 2008)
eRx Network announced today it has received full accreditation by The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC).
Murray Lyle, President and COO of eRx Network said of the accreditation: "After a very substantive review process, we are pleased to have achieved accreditation by EHNAC. This accreditation is a credit to all our personnel and their dedication to delivering critical healthcare transaction services."
About EHNAC
EHNAC is an independent, not-for-profit accrediting agency that provides independent peer evaluation of an organization's ability to perform at industry-established levels.
EHNAC's function is to promote administrative simplification and cost savings in the healthcare industry and to provide the healthcare transaction industry with an independent capability to develop industry standards, known as EHNAC Criteria. The mission of EHNAC is to promote standards, quality service, innovation, cooperation and open competition within the healthcare EDI industry:
Establishes minimum criteria for industry self-regulation.
Encourages firms in the industry to improve performance.
Facilitates open market access and competition ("open access" referring to acceptance of transactions from any source or routing.)
Fosters consistency in transmitted information.
Enhances customer service and satisfaction. ("Customers" include providers, payers, intermediaries and third parties.)
The EHNAC Commission seeks to accredit entities that send or receive HIPAA regulated transactions, or that transport or process EDI transactions between two or more trading partners in the healthcare community. These entities include, but are not limited to, clearinghouses, transactions processors, value-added networks (VANs), payers, providers and provider management organizations.
http://www.ehnac.org
.
Lee Barrett, executive director of EHNAC said of eRx Network: "Today eRx Network joins a select group of Electronic Healthcare Networks (EHNs) that have demonstrated to independent third party evaluators their ability to deliver their services consistent with the only standards in the industry that measure the overall business practices of an EHN."
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (June 14, 2007)
Since the merger with Allwin Data in March of 2005, eRx Network has strived to deliver an integrated suite of transaction-based services to the pharmacy industry, ranging from a number of reliable Network Services (including switching, pre-post editing and resubmission services) to our industry-leading Allwin Medicare and Medicaid DME billing services. In an effort to decrease any confusion that this integrated approach may generate, we have decided to consolidate the currently separate phone treatments for the Allwin Services toll-free phone number (800-879-6153) and the Network Services toll-free phone number (866-379-6389) to a single treatment with menu options for all eRx services. This single call treatment will be enabled on June 21st, but the two toll-free phone numbers will remain active indefinitely. This means that our customers and their business partners will no longer need to call a different phone number depending on the eRx Network service they are calling about.
We feel that this single call treatment will simplify the way our customers can access customer support for the eRx suite of products, especially for those customers that subscribe to both Network Services and Allwin billing services. Additionally, we feel this change will allow us to effectively scale our customer support and continue to provide excellent service to our growing customer-base.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (May 21, 2007)
eRx Network, LLC (“eRx”) today announced it has made available pharmacy National Provider Identifier (“NPI”) mapping services for its retail pharmacy customers. This service seamlessly converts legacy pharmacy identification numbers, whether NCPDP number, state pharmacy identifier or other pharmacy identifier, to the new CMS mandated NPI during the pharmacy claim billing process through eRx. eRx will intelligently map NPIs prospectively based upon the NPI implementation dates specifically required by each pharmacy payer.
In addition to offering the NPI conversion service for billing pharmacy claims, eRx has developed a novel conversion service for reversal transactions. As each payer may have a special requirement for submission of reversal transactions during the NPI conversion process, eRx will appropriately cross-walk the NPI or send the original legacy provider depending on which is required by the payer based upon the original date of service.
Both the billing and reversal pharmacy NPI mapping services are immediately available to eRx Network customers. Customers are advised to contact either their account manager or eRx customer support at 866-379-6389 for more information on these services.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
NASHVILLE, TENNESEE and FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 28, 2006)
Emdeon Business Services, a leading provider of revenue cycle management and clinical communication solutions that enable payers, providers and patients to improve healthcare business processes, and eRx Network, LLC®, a premier retail pharmacy provider of electronic services, today announced a new relationship that will connect eRx pharmacy customers using PDX software with Emdeon’s eprescribing network.
The new ePrescribing capability will enable more efficient communications between pharmacies and physicians and help improve pharmacy workflow, reduce errors and increase patient satisfaction. For Emdeon providers, the new relationship will expand the number of pharmacies in the Emdeon network and help physicians more easily create prescriptions, authorize refills, reduce errors and improve patient safety. It also provides physicians with flexibility as the Emdeon ePrescribing offering is accessible from virtually any web-enabled device.
“This new relationship expands the breadth of our eprescribing capabilities and the strength of the Emdeon pharmacy network in order to enable Emdeon’s provider customers to more easily and efficiently write prescriptions, helping to improve patient safety,” said George Lazenby, Executive Vice President, Emdeon Business Services.
eRx Pad, an ePrescribing service, supports NCPDP Script standards and has been providing e-Prescribing to the pharmacy industry for 10 years. eRx Pad® utilizes Bi-Directional connectivity to support its customer network comprised of pharmacy chains and independent community pharmacies. eRx Network maintains a secure, reliable and performance-oriented network for e-commerce applications to U.S. pharmacies.
About Emdeon
Emdeon (Nasdaq: HLTH) is a leading provider of business, technology and information solutions that transform both the financial and clinical aspects of healthcare delivery. At the core of Emdeon's vision is the commitment to connect providers, payers, employers, physicians and consumers in order to simplify business processes, to provide actionable knowledge at the right time and place and to improve healthcare quality.
Emdeon Business Services provides revenue cycle management and clinical communication solutions that enable payers, providers and patients to improve healthcare business processes. Emdeon Practice Services provides physician practice management and electronic health record software and services that increase practice efficiency and enhance patient care.
For more information about Emdeon, call toll free 1-888-545-6127 or visit
www.emdeon.com
.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 27, 2006)
eRx Network is pleased to announce the eRx Payer Compliance™ suite of services as the latest addition to its line of retail pharmacy focused products. eRx Payer Compliance services are designed to track third party payor reimbursement variances and enables retailers to take action where possible to regain lost revenue. The first product available under the eRx Payer Compliance umbrella is Resubmission Services, an on-demand automated solution designed to identify transactions paid based upon outdated average wholesale pricing (AWP) at the time of original adjudication and re-submit those transactions for greater reimbursement at the correct pricing.
“eRx Network is constantly creating new services that are necessary to meet the rapidly changing demands of the pharmacy industry. eRx Payer Compliance is a significant new suite of services that will further position our retail pharmacy customers to be more efficient and more profitable,” says Mark Lyle, Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network.
The new service is immediately available to all eRx Connect® and eRx Edit® customers. Existing customers are advised to contact their account manager or account executive to enroll.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 25, 2006)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) is pleased to announce the availability of its new eRx Commercial E1™ service in conjunction with partner RxHub, LLC (RxHub). The new service allows pharmacy users to immediately determine eligibility for patients whose pharmacy benefit coverage is unknown at the time of processing. The NCPDP 5.1-based eRx Commercial E1™ service provides real-time eligibility information for over 150 million covered lives. The service is available to both chain and independent eRx Connect® claims switching customers.
“Pharmacists can immediately simplify the task of determining patient eligibility and coverage by using the new eRx Commercial E1™ transaction,” said Mark Lyle, Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. “Pharmacies can now provide an enhanced level of service to patients who do not have their benefit card and patients with recently modified or new coverage. They no longer need to process a cash prescription and adjudicate at a later date when the eRx Commercial E1™ service is able to provide a response.”
“RxHub has offered this solution to the prescribing community for the past 5 years. Physicians have come to depend on this information to accurately determine their patient’s prescription benefit coverage” said Doug Johnson, Vice President of Business Development of RxHub. “Through our partnership with eRx Network, pharmacies can now utilize the same proven technology to provide real-time access to benefit information to better serve the needs of their patients.”
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
About RxHub LLC
RxHub provides the necessary clinical decision support information including patient eligibility, formulary, and medication history at the point-of-care through certified, secured networks and electronically routes prescriptions to the patient’s choice of retail and mail order pharmacies. The mission of RxHub is to partner with all stakeholders in the prescribing industry to improve patient safety, increase workflow efficiency and reduce the overall cost of health care delivery. RxHub is headquartered in St. Paul, MN. For more information, please visit
www.RxHub.net
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 22, 2006)
eRx Network, LLC, is pleased to announce the availability of a new online ePrescribing training solution for our customers. eRx Pad®, our ePrescribing service, gives retail pharmacy a single point of contact to and from physicians through our secure and reliable network.
ePrescribing is the real time communication of prescription orders between physicians and pharmacies. This prescription data includes, but is not limited to, new prescriptions, refill requests and refill responses. ePrescribing is aimed at improving the prescription process including safety, accuracy, efficiency, convenience and the quality of information communicated between the prescriber and the pharmacy.
Historically, the primary challenge with implementing ePrescribing within the pharmacy industry has been the lack of a comprehensive training interface in order to effectively disperse knowledge and increase pharmacies’ understanding of ePrescribing. As with any tool or service, ePrescribing is more effective when staff is well trained operationally and understands the impact of automating new prescription and refill requests/responses.
In response to this industry need for an ePrescribing training solution, eRx has partnered with LearnSomething, Inc., a leading provider of electronic learning solutions, to develop a CBT module. The eRx Pad CBT centers around a series of engaging multimedia demonstrations and simulations designed to build employee competence through hands-on practice. The CBT replicates the environment, screens, and actions of the pharmacy system and is supported by audio-based instruction.
This CBT is available anytime, anywhere for more efficient rollouts and new employee training. If you have any questions about using this portal, please
contact us
“eRx is continually dedicated to producing tools and services that support our customers”, said Mark Lyle, Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. “Not only do we strive to deliver innovative solutions designed to meet the needs of a rapidly changing industry, but also services that are user-focused. Our goal is to make implementation as seamless as possible for our customers.”
eRx Network is also planning future CBT modules with LearnSomething for all its web-reporting services.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
About LearnSomething, Inc.
LearnSomething, Inc. is the leading provider of e-learning solutions for the food, drug, and healthcare industries. LearnSomething, Inc. products and services help companies meet training needs quickly and effectively through flexible online and CD-ROM based training programs.
For more information, please visit
www.learnsomething.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 21, 2006)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) is excited to introduce the latest enhancements to its Allwin Medicaid DME claims billing service. In addition to electronic billing and editing of Medicaid DME claims, eRx now offers real-time eligibility, primary care physician number management, and Recovery services.
Customers submit Medicaid DME claims using NCPDP formats. eRx passes eligibility inquiries seamlessly through eRx's network to the appropriate state Medicaid for validation. Real-time eligibility edits are currently available for the following state Medicaids: CO, FL, ID, IN, MI, NC, WI, with additional states scheduled for roll out soon. Additionally, eRx Network provides a method for validating patient primary care physician (PCP) numbers. This service is currently available for North Carolina Medicaid and Florida Medicaid. Finally, Allwin Recovery is now available for North Carolina and Florida Medicaid claims. A dedicated Recovery specialist will analyze customers’ electronic remittance notification and take corrective action on all rejected claims.
“eRx Network is constantly offering improvements and new services that are necessary to meet the rapidly changing demands of the pharmacy industry. We develop products and services that will position retail pharmacies to be efficient and profitable,” says Murray Lyle, President of eRx Network. “We listen to what our customers need and implement solutions.”
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
ASHEVILLE, NC (July 10, 2006)
eRx Network today announced the move of its Asheville office to the Nettlewood Professional Park. The move provides larger and improved personnel and data center facilities to support significant growth in the organization.
The new address is as follows:
eRx Network
84 Peachtree Road, Suite 300
Asheville, NC 28803
All phone and fax numbers will remain the same.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (July 17, 2006)
This message is a reminder for all providers and physicians who bill Medicare contractors for their services.
A brief hold will be placed on Medicare payments for all claims during the last 9 days of the Federal fiscal year (September 22 through September 30, 2006). These payment delays are mandated by section 5203 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. No interest will be accrued and no late penalties will be paid to an entity or individual by reason of this one-time hold on payments. All claims held during this time will be paid on October 2, 2006.
This policy only applies to claims subject to payment. It does not apply to full denials, no-pay claims, and other non-claim payments such as periodic interim payments, home health requests for anticipated payments, and cost report settlements.
Please note that payments will not be staggered and no advance payments will be allowed during this 9-day hold.
For more information, please view the MLN Matters Article at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5047.pdf
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (June 15, 2006)
Announcing a new feature: Allwin™ EOB On Demand
IMPORTANT
CMS has announced that effective June 1, 2006, printing and mailing of ALL standard paper remittance notices to providers will cease.
In response to this change, Allwin has developed
ALLWIN™ EOB ON DEMAND
. ALLWIN™ EOB ON DEMAND is an easy-to-use tool that enables you to search all remittance data based on a check number, a selected date range, or a particular cardholder ID. This tool can be utilized for plans USMCA, USFLU, and RRFLU, if your pharmacy is enrolled for that plan.
Once the remittance data you are looking for is found, you can access it in four different formats: Raw 835, Readable 835, Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, or an Adobe PDF version of the remittance notice.
Once logged in you will find a tab titled “Download ERN/EOB Files” on the left hand side, simply click on this to view your EOB Remittance.
If you are unable to view any remittance, please call 800-879-6153 opt. 3 to confirm Allwin has been authorized to receive your files.
If you have forgotten your password or need assistance logging on to our secure customer website, please call the Allwin Data Supplier Help Desk at 800-879-6153, option 1.
The “Raw 835” file can also be downloaded and imported into the “Medicare Remit Easy Print” software, if you choose to use that software to select and print Remittance notices. Please note: the Medicare Remit Easy Print software is proprietary to CMS and therefore Allwin cannot answer support related questions concerning that software.
IMPORTANT: This information needs to be shared with the person responsible for reconciliation on behalf of your pharmacy.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (June 15, 2006)
When will my Standard Paper Remittance (SPR) end?
CMS has announced that the DMERCs will no longer provide Standard Paper Remittance to providers sending electronic transactions after June 1st, 2006.
How will I receive my remittance information after June 1st?
In response to this change, Allwin Data has developed
ALLWIN™ EOB ON DEMAND
, available on our website. ALLWIN™ EOB ON DEMAND is an easy-to-use tool that enables our customers to search all remittance data by Check Number, Store, Patient and Date of Service and/or by File Date. Once the remittance data you are looking for is found, you can access it in four different formats: Raw 835, Readable 835, Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, or an Adobe PDF version of the remittance notice.
The “Raw 835” file can also be downloaded and imported into the “Medicare Remit Easy Print” software, if you choose to use that software to select and print Remittance notices. Please note: the Medicare Remit Easy Print software is proprietary to CMS and therefore Allwin Data cannot answer support related questions concerning that software.
What does EOB, ERN, ERA, and 835 stand for?
EOB= Explanation of Benefits, Medicare’s adjudication information
ERN= Electronic Remittance Information, interchangeable with ERA
ERA= Electronic Remittance Advice, interchangeable with ERN
835= Files from Medicare that contain the remittance data
How long will my EOBs be on file?
No cut off date has been established.
Can I look at my EOBs now? How far back can I go?
If Allwin Data was set up to receive your pharmacies 835s and you were enrolled with Allwin Data Services, you can go back as far as Oct 1, 2004 How long will my EOBs be on file?No cut off date has been established.
Will I still get a check?
Yes, unless you are set up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) then your funds will be directly deposited into your bank. To sign up for EFT call your Regional Carrier:
Region A:
Health Now 866-419-9458
(after July 1st contact NHIC)
Region B:
AdminaStar 877-299-7900
Region C:
Palmetto GBA 866-270-4909
Region D:
Cigna 866-243-7272
(after July 1st Noridian)
Will I get anything with my check explaining what is paid?
No. You will just receive a check and you will need to view your EOB information online.
How fast will my EOBs be made available?
Normally, it takes anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks for Medicare to process a claim once it is received. Allwin Data’s EDI department downloads the appropriate files each day from Medicare in order to provide the most current information available. Your EOBs will be available within 2 days of your receiving reimbursement from Medicare.
Is Allwin set up to receive my remittance information already?
When you enrolled with Allwin Data for processing Medicare DME claims you were asked to sign paperwork authorizing Allwin Data to receive your electronic remittance. Thus, the majority of Allwin Data customers are already set up to take advantage of this new service. Allwin Data’s Enrollment Department can identify if your EDI paperwork is on file which will authorize us to receive your remittance files. If you have made arrangements to receive your own electronic remittance advice (835 files) or another Third Party will access that information on your behalf, please alert the Allwin Data Enrollment Department at 800-879-6153 opt 3.
How much will it cost?
Currently, EOB On Demand is offered to Allwin Data customers as part of our basic Clearinghouse Services Package. We understand the value of that information to the success and management of your business.
What can I expect?
For years Allwin Data has been posting claim status information on our secure customer page based on receiving a pharmacy’s 835 (remittance) files. You may be used to seeing your pharmacy’s claims in a “P”, “R” or “S” status. With EOB On Demand, you will now see all of the information you would typically see on a SPR sent from your DMERC. That information will be available in these 4 formats: Raw 835 data, readable Raw 835 file, PDF formatted, and in the Excel format. You can do searches based on NCPDP or cardholder ID (limited to the transactions from your system), and check #. NCPDP queries are based on the date EOB information was reported from Medicare. Cardholder ID queries are based on the date of service on a specific claim or the date EOB information was reported from Medicare.
How do I log in to access my EOBS On Demand?
Allwin Data customers log on to the web address
www.allwin.net
. Your user name=your NCPDP and your password= your zip code (upon initial log in you will be prompted to change your password). Forgot your password? Please call the Support Department at 800-879-6153, opt 1.
I receive my own remittance already or another Third Party receives my remittance. How can I make sure Allwin is not receiving that remittance data?
Please speak with the Allwin Data Enrollment Department to ensure that Allwin Data is not set up to receive your remittance data.
I don’t have internet access. Will Allwin provide a service to forward paper copies to our pharmacy?
We are adhering to CMS’s policy to reduce paperwork. We are not offering a service to print and send paper remittance.
Does this affect my other Medicare Plans A or D?
Please contact Medicare to discuss remittance advice for Plans A and D as Allwin Data focuses solely on Part B claims.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 11, 2006)
Florida Medicaid has confirmed that a prior authorization number (PA) is no longer required for nutritional supplements. This change may be temporary or permanent (FL DME representatives state it could go either way) and there is no timeline on when those PA requirements may be reinstated. The change occurred because Florida DME was having difficulties processing PA numbers for nutritional supplements. Until Allwin Data receives information to indicate the PA requirements have been reinstated, we have adjusted our system to no longer require PA for these items.
Provider Action:
No action is required by the provider as Allwin Data has adjusted the system to allow nutritional supplement claims to proceed without a prior authorization number being populated in the appropriate field.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 11, 2006)
CMS has announced that the transition from DMERCs to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) in Regions D and C will be delayed three months from July 1 to Oct. 1. The transition to MACs in Regions A and B will occur on July 1 as previously announced. The delay in Regions C and D is due to a protest filed by Cigna Government Services, the current Region D DMERC, who lost their bid in Regions C and D. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will rule on the protest but is not expected to do so until May. Palmetto GBA won the Region C contractor bid and Noridian Administrative Services won the Region D bid. Noridian and Palmetto have stopped work on the transition until there is a ruling on the protest. The contractors are part of Medicare"s reconfiguring of the DMERCs into two specialty contractors. The MACs will oversee claims processing, customer service and other day-to-day operations. The Program Safeguard Contractors (PSA), overseen by a medical director, are responsible for program integrity duties and assumed their duties March 1. For additional information regarding the transition, please view the CMS article:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareContractingReform/ 08_DurableMedicalEquipmentMedicareAdministrativeContractor.asp
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 11, 2006)
A draft local coverage determination (LCD), issued at the beginning of April, calls for Xopenex to be paid as Albuterol, while payment for DuoNeb would be based on the allowance for separate unit dose vials of Albuterol and Ipratropium. Recently released pricing for the second quarter of 2006 saw increases for Xopenex (18 cents per dose to $3.53) and DuoNeb (7 cents to $1.09 per dose). Under the proposed changes, Xopenex would be reimbursed at 18 cents a dose and DuoNeb at 28.8 cents per dose. Providers had until May 8 to comment on the proposal.
Provider Action:
If any fee schedule changes are made by CMS, Allwin Data will update the system accordingly.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 10, 2006)
Beginning June 1, 2006, Medicare carriers and DMERCs will stop sending standard paper remittance (SPR) advices to you (or a billing agent, clearinghouse, or other entity representing you) if you have been receiving 835s or electronic remittance advice (ERA) transactions, either directly or through a billing agent, clearinghouse, or other entity representing you, for 45 days or more.
Provider Action:
Allwin Data has recently made available to providers our EOB/ERN application which can be utilized for plans USMCA, USFLU, and RRFLU, if the pharmacy or group is enrolled for that plan. To utilize the application, the provider will log in to
http://www.allwin.net
with the appropriate username and password. Once the webpage loads, the EOB/ERN link will be located on the left side of the screen. After clicking the link, a variety of search options are available to help locate a specific remittance advice. For additional information, please visit:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM4376.pdf
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 10, 2006)
The Medicare coinsurance for Part B covered drugs will need to be billed Point-Of-Sale (POS) if the pharmacy does not have their crossover information on file with the Florida Medicaid. This issue will be gradually resolved by FL DME, but no timeframe was given. Florida Medicaid states:
Florida Medicaid is implementing the following policy, retroactive for services provided on or after January 1, 2006.
This is to resolve coinsurance payment issues related to drugs covered by Part B Medicare; specifically immunosuppressive agents for transplant patients and cancer chemotherapy/anti-emetic agents:
Payment for Part B Medicare covered Immunosuppressive drugs, cancer related chemotherapy agents and antiemetics covered by Part B related to chemotherapy
will be temporarily treated as "Medicare Part D Excluded Drugs" which means the coinsurance, following Medicare Part B payment
will be payable by Medicaid as a prescription drug claim
.
Because many pharmacies do not have valid crossover payment information on file with the Medicaid fiscal agent or do not have a Medicare provider number the solution described above is being provided temporarily. Medicaid is working to resolve this issue systematically and all providers will be required to bill through the Medicare/Medicaid crossover system when completed.
http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/Prescribed_Drug/ pdf/crossoverTPL2ltrhd.pdf
Provider Action:
The provider should contact FL DME to have their crossover payment information updated in FL DME’s system. Until this information is updated with the state, the provider will need to bill the coinsurance amount through their POS system until Florida Medicaid indicates that they have resolved their issues.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 10, 2006)
http://my.medicare.gov/
- The Medicare Beneficiary Portal is an internet portal that allows registered beneficiaries the ability to view their eligibility and entitlement information, enrollment information including prescription drug plans, deductible and address of record information. Additionally, it provides beneficiaries with the ability to order replacement Medicare cards, access to online forms and publications, preventive service information and the option for web chat assistance for any technical questions. Now, adjudicated claims information is available online through My.Medicare.gov. At present, adjudicated claims data is available to registered users of the portal in the following states: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Other states will have access to the claim data by late spring 2006.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 10, 2006)
North Carolina Medicaid has confirmed that they do indeed only pay 62.8% of the 20% Medicare crossover. Further, NC Medicaid indicates that the provider may
NOT
charge the beneficiary the difference.
Provider Action:
No action is required by the provider as claims will continue to be adjudicated as normal.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 10, 2006)
Earlier this year, CMS announced that they would be eliminating the use of the surrogate UPIN OTH000 on 4/1/06. CMS has rescinded this announcement, therefore, OTH000 can still be transmitted to Medicare when the physician is awaiting his/her official UPIN.
Provider Action:
The provider can transmit the surrogate UPIN in their Prescriber ID field or the provider can contact Allwin Data to have a customer service representative link the physician’s DEA number to the surrogate UPIN. For additional information, please visit Medlearn Matters:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5019.pdf
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (May 10, 2006)
When billing claims to MS DME, items which are considered
"By Report"
Allwin Data will reject the claims indicating they need to be billed on paper (see below).
"In an effort to minimize the number of DME and medical supply items billed with an E1399 procedure code, the Division of Medicaid has opened additional valid HCPCS codes that match many of these items. If a specific valid HCPCS code exists for an item, the specific code must be billed. In some cases, the item must be manually priced by HSM at the time of certification because there is no fee on file. As new Medicare fees become available, these manually priced items will be assigned a fee at 80% of the current Medicare fee as required in the Medicaid State Plan.
For all items listed on the DME Fee Schedule with a PAC 810 (B.R.), the provider must submit a manufacturer’s invoice with the cost of the item to the provider with the CMN and POC forms. HSM will use this information to assign a manual price to the item.
Provider Action:
When receiving a rejection message from Allwin indicating that the item needs to be billed By Report to MS DME, the provider must submit the claim to the appropriate state on paper along with the manufacturer’s invoice.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 26, 2006)
Navarro Discount Pharmacies of Miami, Florida has chosen eRx Network, LLC (eRx) to provide third party claims management and web reporting services to its retail pharmacy locations. These services include eRx Connect claims processing, which offers Navarro pharmacies nationwide access to third party payers through eRx’s high-speed secure, reliable network. eRx is also delivering eRx Edit pre/post editing and reporting services to Navarro pharmacies. Navarro will rely on eRx Edit to reduce submission errors, optimize reimbursements and manage risk in third party claims.
“Our new relationship with eRx Network will allow us to reduce potential losses in revenue from third parties and ensure that our claim processing is secure, reliable and well-managed,” states Carlos Ruiz, Navarro Director of Pharmacy.
“We are always enthusiastic when a strong regional operator like Navarro selects eRx as their transaction services provider,” said Mark Lyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. “We are excited to be a part of Navarro’s continued success and development.”
About Navarro Discount Pharmacies
Navarro Discount Pharmacies was founded by Jose Navarro Sr. in Havana, Cuba in 1940. In 1961, the government took possession of the two Navarro pharmacies and the Navarro family fled to Miami in search of freedom and new opportunities. Upon arriving in Miami, Jose Navarro Sr. cashed in an insurance policy and used the $4,000 proceeds to open a pharmacy on 8th St. and 13th Avenue, in what would become the hearts of Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.
Navarro opened its second pharmacy in 1979 and has continued expanding ever since with the direction of Jose Sr.'s two sons, Jose Jr. and Luis. Today the company operates 20 stores in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and will be opening at least 2 stores in 2006.
Navarro Discount Pharmacy has ranked no. 1 in the nation based upon sales per store as well as in the number of prescriptions filled per store per day. Navarro has also ranked no. 32 in total sales among the nation's chain drug stores. To date, Navarro holds a 17 percent market share in South Florida with annual sales in 2005 exceeding 220 million dollars, making Navarro the most productive performer on a sales per store basis than any other drug chain.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 14, 2006)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) today announced that Allan Smith has joined eRx as Product Manager, ePrescribing. Allan's experience in ePrescribing extends eRx Network's capabilities in one of the fastest-growing parts of their business. Allan spent the past nine years working for ProxyMed / MedAvant as Operations Manager where he was responsible for managing the network operations center, the implementation, and support of all front-end and back-end partners. Allan will be joining eRx in February 2006 and will be responsible for defining the direction for ePrescribing within eRx, as well as leading project teams to design and enhance eRx's ePrescribing products and services.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 07, 2006)
eRx Network applauds the efforts our customers and the entire retail pharmacy industry have made towards supporting the new Medicare Part D benefit. eRx Network has done our best to ensure a smooth transition to Part D however we recognize that during the month of January our customers have been unfortunately burdened by the transition to the Part D program.
We are pleased to inform you that eRx Network will not charge switching or upcharge fees for any eligibility (E1) transactions that were not processed.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 15, 2005)
Bartell Drug Company of Seattle, Washington and Happy Harry’s Inc. of Newark, Delaware have chosen eRx Network, LLC (eRx) to provide third party claims management and web reporting services to their retail pharmacy locations. eRx is providing Bartell and Happy Harry’s with claims processing (eRx Connect®) and pre/post editing services (eRx Edit®). eRx Connect® offers their pharmacies nationwide access to third party payers through eRx’s high-speed secure, reliable network. Both pharmacy chains will rely on eRx Edit® to reduce submission errors, maximize reimbursements and manage risk in third-party claims.
“We are pleased these strong regional operators have chosen eRx as their transaction services provider,” said Mark Lyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. “As always, our commitment is to our customers’ continued success and development.”
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 1, 2005)
eRx Network LLC (eRx), a leading provider of transaction processing and clearinghouse services to retail pharmacies, today announced the launch of the NCPDP 5.1 E1 transactions process. eRx customers will be allowed to submit E1 transactions free of charge through December 31, 2005. Medicare Part D Beneficiaries will begin coverage effective January 1, 2006.
A variety of test cases will be provided for use during testing. Each scenario will better prepare pharmacists for the new Part D Eligibility solution. Existing customers are advised to speak with their account manager or eRx Customer Support in order to begin testing. Customers may also access this information at
www.erxnetwork.com
.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (November 11, 2005)
eRx Network LLC (eRx), a leading provider of transaction processing and clearinghouse services to retail pharmacies, today announced the availability of a new solution to aid pharmacists submitting claims for prescription drugs that may be covered by either Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D.
Under current CMS guidelines, the new Medicare Part D program and the existing Medicare Part B program include a group of dual covered drugs. Accurate billing of these dual covered drugs requires pharmacist evaluation of the patient’s medical condition and other determining factors. Pharmacies will not be able to determine correct Medicare coverage based solely on therapeutic class or drug.
The eRx Medicare B/D Dual Coverage Solution™ is designed to provide billing decision support to retail pharmacies at the point-of-dispensing for the dual covered drugs. The solution takes into consideration over 1,900 disease codes in conjunction with more than 3,200 NDCs normally associated with Medicare Part B to screen for potential submission errors to Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans.
The eRx Medicare B/D Dual Coverage Solution™ is immediately available at no additional charge to eRx customers who subscribe to both eRx Edit® and Allwin™ Medicare. Existing customers are advised to speak with their account manager to enable the solution.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (March 10, 2005)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) announced today that it has been chosen by Snyders Drug Stores to provide all of its retail pharmacies with claims management, web reporting services, and physician communication tools. These services allow Snyders' pharmacists to spend less of their day on administrative work and more time on patient care.
"Several factors contributed to our decision to move to eRx's services," said Robb Ayshford, Snyders Group Vice President Pharmacy. "We found eRx's reporting system to have superior capabilities. The advanced technology and account management services are impressive, and we are also very pleased with the management of the overall rollout process."
eRx is providing Snyders Drug Stores with claims processing (eRx Connect®), pre/post editing services (eRx Edit®), and electronic prescription services (eRx Pad®). These services bring Snyder's greater control over third party claims adjudication, and streamlined communication between Snyders' pharmacies and physician community.
"We are excited that Snyders Drug Stores has joined our customer network," said Mark Lyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. "We are committed to furthering the success of the Snyders pharmacy group."
About Snyders Drug Stores
Snyder's Drug Stores, Inc., founded in 1928 and based in Minnetonka, MN, operates over 70 corporate stores in 3 states. Snyder's Drug Stores, Inc. operates under the following banners: Snyders Drug Stores and Western Drug. Snyder's Drug Stores, Inc. is an affiliate of the Katz Group of Canada, whose Chairman is Mr. Daryl Katz.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claim reconciliation services, and electronic prescribing solutions.
eRx Network and Allwin Data recently announced the combination of their businesses. The merger joins two complementary organizations in the competitive business of providing claims management, transaction processing services, and electronic prescribing services to retail pharmacies. With operations located in Asheville, NC and Fort Worth, TX, the combined business will serve more than 25,000 pharmacies nationwide.
About Allwin Data
Allwin Data is the nation's leading provider of claim cycle receivables management for Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and disposable medical supplies. Allwin technology solutions include claims processing, claim reconciliation and clearinghouse services.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
For more information about Allwin Data, call toll free 1-800-879-6153 or visit
www.allwin.net
.
-- Strategic Merger Joins Significant Healthcare Transaction Processing Company with Medicare Part B Expertise --
FORT WORTH, TEXAS AND ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (March 1, 2005)
eRx Network, a leading provider of pharmacy transaction processing and value-add services and Allwin Data, a leading provider of specialty pharmacy claims processing services today announced the combination of their businesses.
The merger joins two complementary organizations in the competitive business of providing claims management, transaction processing services, and electronic prescribing services to retail pharmacies. With operations located in Asheville, NC and Fort Worth, TX, the combined business will serve more than 25,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, eRx Network acquired the assets of Allwin Data in exchange for eRx Network stock and cash. Mark Lyle, President and CEO of eRx Network, will retain his responsibility for management of the transaction processing business. Murray Lyle as President of the Allwin division continues his management responsibilities for the overall operations of the specialty claims processing business. Financing for the transaction was provided solely by existing shareholders and senior management.
"eRx Network and Allwin Data are a logical fit and will provide strong opportunities for collaborative offerings to our customers," said Mark Lyle. "We have tremendous potential to leverage our individual strengths in technical infrastructure, personnel, service operations and senior management expertise for the benefit of our customers."
"Allwin Data's Medicare Part B claims processing business and our specialty claims processing background will extend eRx Network's overall transaction processing capabilities," said Murray Lyle. "The combined business has the expertise, stability and financial strength to more aggressively expand our customer base, personnel capabilities and services portfolio."
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
About Allwin Data
Allwin Data is the nation's leading provider of claim cycle receivables management for Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and disposable medical supplies. Allwin technology solutions include claims processing, claim reconciliation and clearinghouse services. More information about Allwin Data is available at www.allwin.net.
For more information about Allwin Data, call toll free 1-800-879-6153 Extension 128,
Email us
or visit
www.allwin.net
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 11, 2005)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) today announced that Kate Schumacher has joined eRx as Manager of Strategic Accounts and Product Specialist. Kate’s expertise in pharmacy claims management further adds to eRx’s commitment to serve the needs of our retail pharmacy customers. Kate’s career in pharmacy started over 14 years ago with the Eckerd Drug Company. Kate’s experience at Eckerd spanned a variety of positions including financial and technical analysis roles. Immediately prior to leaving Eckerd, Kate held the position of Product Manager with responsibility for the Eckerd pre- and post- editing services. Kate joined eRx Network in January of 2005 as Manager of Strategic Accounts and Product Specialist where she will focus on account management of eRx Network’s products and services. Kate holds a degree from the University of Central Florida.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 30, 2004)
ProxyMed, Inc. (NASDAQ: PILL), a leading provider of healthcare transaction processing and medical cost containment services, and eRx Network, LLC, a premier U.S. pharmacy industry provider of a secure, reliable and performance-oriented network for e-commerce applications, today announced the addition of 4 new pharmacy chains to their joint electronic prescription network. eRx Network(TM) pharmacies now actively exchanging true electronic data interchange messages in production with ProxyMed‘s network of physicians include Publix, Navarro‘s, Shopko and Meijer. These chains represent a total of over 1644 store locations.
"Electronic prescribing is receiving considerable media attention right now," said Richard K. Brook, ProxyMed Vice President of Pharmacy Services. "In light of the government‘s drive for universal health records for all Americans within the next 10 years and the critical role that documented electronic prescriptions will play in those records, it‘s important to remember that the collaborative effort between ProxyMed and eRx is one of the few that have delivered real adoption and actual use of electronic prescriptions."
"We are very pleased with the growth we‘ve been able to attain working with ProxyMed," said Mark Lyle, President of eRx Network. "This system provides us with robust, fully functional physician connectivity which is key in gaining widespread adoption of electronic prescribing."
"As a customer of eRx Network, Meijer has been utilizing the e-prescribing connectivity services of ProxyMed and eRx for several months," said Mike Major, Vice President of Pharmacy Operations for Meijer. "During this time, we have seen tangible operational efficiencies in our stores as a result of this service and have received great customer feedback as a result of the decreased time required to refill a prescription."
ProxyMed owns and operates the longest established, and one of the largest and most experienced national scale exchanges for e-prescribing messages. The ProxyMed network has securely and reliably processed over 18 million e-prescribing transactions since inception, and is currently processing over 4 million transactions annually. In the second quarter of 2004, ProxyMed either sent or received an electronic prescription from 11,000 pharmacies in over 40 states. ProxyMed‘s e-prescribing network includes national and regional pharmacy chains, mass merchants, supermarkets and independent pharmacies, and in total, the network offers production connectivity to over 30,000 pharmacies. ProxyMed also provides connectivity services to multiple physician practice management and e-prescribing software vendors.
In addition to the 5 pharmacy chains in production, eRx Network has contracted with and is working towards production implementation with national and regional pharmacy chains representing an additional 1,600 stores. eRx Network also connects to several other physician practice management vendors and e-prescribing networks.
About ProxyMed, Inc.
ProxyMed provides connectivity, medical cost containment services, business process outsourcing solutions and related value-added products to physicians, payers, pharmacies, medical laboratories, and other healthcare providers and suppliers. ProxyMed‘s services support a broad range of both financial and clinical transactions, and we are HIPAA certified through Edifecs. To facilitate these services, ProxyMed operates Phoenix(TM), our secure national electronic information platform, which provides physicians and other primary care providers with direct connectivity to payers, chain and independent pharmacies and clinical laboratories.
For more information, please visit the Company‘s website at http://www.proxymed.com.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (October 20, 2003)
SureScripts announced today a new partnership formed with pharmacy technology vendor, eRx Network, LLC, to extend electronic prescribing connectivity to the PDX family of pharmacies. More than 50 percent of the nation’s 55,000 pharmacies will be connected to SureScripts Messenger Services before the end of 2003, allowing them to transmit prescription information to and communicate with physician practices in a two-way, true electronic format, which eliminates paper from the prescribing process.
“This most recent partnership illustrates that another industry leader shares SureScripts’ commitment to improving the overall prescribing process,” said Kevin Hutchinson, president and CEO of SureScripts. “Implementation of SureScripts Messenger Services by leading pharmacy practice management systems such as those offered by eRx Network’s PDX customers reinforce that electronic prescription communications are becoming widely adopted by pharmacies ranging from independent community pharmacies and chain drug stores to supermarkets and mass merchandisers. This broad connectivity will enable physicians to communicate prescription information electronically with the patient’s pharmacy of choice.”
SureScripts Provides Connectivity for eRx
eRx Network, a leading provider of transaction processing services to retail pharmacy, has signed an agreement with SureScripts to provide electronic prescribing connectivity supported by SureScripts Messenger Services.
“For us, SureScripts’ appeal is its ability to allow us to expand our physician connectivity and enable our pharmacy customers currently utilizing our electronic prescribing solutions to communicate electronically with the growing number of physicians interested in improving the prescription process.” said Mark Lyle, president of eRx Network. “We look forward to being part of the collaborative and community approach to driving physician adoption of electronic prescribing.”
eRx Network consists of sixty pharmacy chains, representing drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants, such as Duane Reade, Safeway and Target, and more than 800 independent community pharmacies, together comprising approximately 9,000 stores.
“Improving the safety, accuracy and efficiency of the overall prescribing process has become a national priority. The alliance between PDX, our partner eRx Network and SureScripts demonstrates our commitment to improving the system and we look forward to rolling out SureScripts Messenger Services to our customers in the near future,” said Ken Hill, CEO, PDX Inc.
About SureScripts
SureScripts is committed to building relationships within the healthcare community and working collaboratively with key industry stakeholders and organizations to improve the safety, efficiency and quality of healthcare by improving the overall prescribing process. At the core of this improvement effort is SureScripts Messenger Services, a healthcare infrastructure, which establishes electronic communications between pharmacists and physicians and enables the two-way electronic exchange of prescription information. More than 75 percent of the nation’s chain and independent community pharmacies have endorsed SureScripts and are committed to utilizing the infrastructure. SureScripts Messenger Services is the first step to support true electronic prescribing in an industry still reliant on fax, phone, pen and paper. More information about SureScripts is available at
www.surescripts.com
.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (September 22, 2003)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) today announced the opening of an additional data center in Chicago, Illinois. The new data center, co-located in a Tier 1 managed facility, provides significant additional capacity to eRx services including claims switching, pre/post editing and electronic prescription switching. The Chicago location was chosen due to its telecommunications and power grid diversity from eRx’s existing data center facilities in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
“The capabilities of our existing Dallas/Fort Worth facilities combined with the new Chicago data center provide eRx customers with unmatched redundancy and service availability,” said Mark Lyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. “eRx will continue to invest in and expand our infrastructure to stay ahead of the growth in our transaction processing business.”
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 07, 2003)
eRx Network, LLC (eRx) today announced that it is working with Aurora Pharmacy, Inc. to enable all of its retail pharmacies to exchange prescription messages electronically and process third party insurance claims. Aurora Pharmacy has more than 125 locations throughout Wisconsin. eRx electronic prescription services are designed to help Aurora Pharmacy enhance patient safety through the reduction of potential medication errors. Additionally eRx’s claims processing, editing and reconciliation services will help Aurora optimize third party insurance payments.
The eRx Pad® service will enable Aurora pharmacists to receive and exchange prescription information electronically. eRx Pad® will be incorporated into additional Aurora Pharmacy management software, allowing streamlined communication of new prescriptions, refill requests and refill authorizations between Aurora’s pharmacies and physician community.
“Having multiple locations throughout Wisconsin that meet the diverse needs of clinical and pharmacy stakeholders, Aurora is clearly poised to take advantage of the benefits electronic prescribing offers,” said Mark Lyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of eRx Network. “We are excited that an industry leader such as Aurora has chosen eRx Network transaction processing services to improve patient outcomes in their pharmacies.”
eRx is also providing Aurora with claims processing (eRx Connect™), pre- and post- editing (eRx Edit™) and claim reconciliation services (eRx Audit™). These three services combine to bring Aurora greater control over third party claims adjudication and insight into the health of the company’s third party business. Aurora will now be able to review and analyze claim transactions from the point of dispensing to the receipt of payments.
"eRx is a natural complement to our information systems. It allow us to better manage the needs of physicians and patients,” said Kimberly Hodgkinson, Aurora Pharmacy Director of Finance. “Most importantly, eRx enables our pharmacists to spend less time on administrative work and devote more of their day on patient care.”
About Aurora Health Care
Aurora Pharmacy operates more than 125 retail pharmacies in three primary areas – freestanding community pharmacies, food stores and clinics and hospitals. Aurora Pharmacy is a part of Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a nationally recognized leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora has care sites in 75 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (March 17, 2003)
eRx Network LLC (eRx) today announced that it has been selected by Medicap Pharmacies, Inc., to provide online pharmacy claims switching and pre- and post- editing services to its nationwide network of 200 franchise locations, open or under development, in 35 states. The services from eRx are designed to improve pharmacy workflow by reducing adjudication time and enhance profitability through monitoring and editing claims.
eRx’s eRx Connect™ claims switching services will provide Medicap Pharmacy stores with the ability to adjudicate claims reliably and quickly via the Internet or toll-free dial-up. eRx Edit™ will give Medicap Pharmacy locations the advantage of careful claims checking and price editing prior to adjudication, maximizing third-party insurance company reimbursements.
This agreement with eRx provides fast-paced internet switching vs. traditional dial-up modem switching and will bring even more efficient work-flow technology into our Medicap Pharmacy locations,” commented William Kimball, Chairman and CEO of Medicap Pharmacies, Inc. “Based on the response we have had so far from stores utilizing this service, we expect a high degree of participation from our franchise pharmacies.
About Medicap Pharmacies, Inc.
Medicap Pharmacies, Inc. is a national franchisor of community-based retail pharmacy, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Medicap Pharmacy pharmacists filled more than 7.8 million prescriptions in 2002 and the company posted a record + $366 million in sales.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 18, 2002)
eRx Network LLC, a leading provider of transaction processing services to retail pharmacy, announced today that it has signed an agreement with SUPERVALU, Inc. (NYSE: SVU) to be their exclusive provider of online pharmacy claims switching and pre- and post- editing services. eRx Network will provide these services through the eRx Connect™ claims switch and eRx Edit™ pre- and post- edit engine.
SUPERVALU selected eRx Network based on its ability to provide secure, reliable services through its two state-of-the-art data centers with redundant connections to leading payers. SUPERVALU also recognized the value in eRx Network’s flexible connection and configuration options and real-time web reporting solutions.
“We are pleased to welcome the SUPERVALU group of pharmacies to our growing customer base” said Mark Lyle, president and chief executive officer of eRx Network. “We look forward to delivering services that not only provide proven return on investment but also give SUPERVALU an edge in managing their third party claim transactions.”
About SUPERVALU
SUPERVALU is one of the largest companies in the United States grocery channel. With annual revenues in excess of $20 billion, SUPERVALU holds leading market share positions with its 1,358 retail grocery locations, including licensed Save-A-Lot locations. Through its Save-A-Lot format, the Company holds the number one market position in the extreme value grocery retailing sector. In addition, through SUPERVALU‘s geographically diverse distribution centers, the Company provides distribution and related logistics support services across the nation‘s grocery channel. At year-end, SUPERVALU (www.supervalu.com) had approximately 57,800 employees.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (August 6, 2002)
eRx Network, an innovative provider of transaction processing services to retail pharmacy and Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ: MDRX), a leading provider of point-of-care decision support solutions for physicians, today announced they have signed an agreement to exchange electronic prescriptions between their networks. The three-year agreement allows online bi-directional connectivity between doctors using the Allscripts TouchWorks Rx+(TM) prescribing application and retail pharmacies using eRx Network's eRx Pad(TM) infrastructure.
eRx Network's eRx Pad, introduced in 2001, is an NCPDP Script standard-based electronic prescription transmittal service, giving retail pharmacy an online single point of contact to physicians throughout the country. eRx Network currently offers electronic prescribing connectivity to all PDX pharmacy system customers and plans to release availability to other pharmacy systems during 2002.
"The eRx relationship with Allscripts will undoubtedly increase the availability and usage of electronic prescriptions - something that all of us in the healthcare industry would like to see," said Mark Lyle, President and CEO of eRx Network. "We are committed to providing a service that offers timely and accurate prescription information which can result in improved safety, greater efficiency and overall lower prescription drug costs. eRx is pleased to improve on the value of this service through our agreement with Allscripts."
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions provides electronic prescribing solutions as a part of TouchWorks(TM), a suite of mobile and modular clinical applications that combine to form a complete EMR. A leader in wireless clinical applications, Allscripts introduced the first fully functional wireless electronic prescribing solution in 1999. Thousands of physicians across the U.S. currently write prescriptions using Allscripts applications.
"Allscripts wholeheartedly works with organizations like eRx Network, that will facilitate further adoption of electronic prescribing technology through this kind of connectivity," commented Steven LeFar, Senior Vice President of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions. "Electronic prescribing contributes to a safer and more efficient healthcare system overall, ultimately benefiting pharmacists, physicians, payors, and patients alike."
About Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions is the leading provider of point-of-care decision support solutions for physicians. The Company's TouchWorks software products enhance physician productivity using a wireless handheld device or desktop workstation to automate the most common physician activities including prescribing, capturing charges, dictating, ordering labs and viewing results, providing patient education, and taking clinical notes. The Company also provides medication fulfillment services. Additionally, Allscripts provides patient compliance and healthcare product education services for physicians through its Physicians Interactive(TM) unit. Allscripts provides services to over 20,000 physicians across the U.S.
Strategic partners include IDX Systems (NASDAQ: IDXC); IMS Health (NYSE: RX); Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT); HP (NYSE: HPQ); Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX); and Medco Health.
TouchWorks Rx+, TouchWorks, and Physicians Interactive are trademarks of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions. Visit Allscripts on the Web at www.allscripts.com.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (June 25, 2002)
eRx Network has teamed up with Pharmacy First to offer all their customers an exciting program that can provide enhanced profitability through Pharmacy First's Market Share Rebate Program. Customers of eRx Network can provide non-patient identifiable information to Pharmacy First to participate in specific drug programs that can generate significant revenue for their pharmacy.
Pharmacy First rebate payments for third quarter 2001 reflected a dramatic rise in dollar earnings for stores that are actively transmitting prescription data through the network. On average, member pharmacies are now earning over $600.00 per quarter, with the highest earning store recently receiving payment of over $7,000.00 for this single three-month rebate cycle.
A review of network performance has shown that the highest earning pharmacies have implemented patient persistency and compliance strategies that work to increase a prescription's total yield. Of the top 100 drugs dispensed in retail pharmacies, over 30 are brands eligible for earning network rebates, enabling pharmacies actively involved in patient care to maximize earnings. These pharmacies are achieving tremendous financial results while improving therapeutic outcomes for their patients.
Another factor for rising rebates has been the steady, but selective, enrollment of new pharmacies into the network. Only those pharmacies that have the ability and willingness to perform well in the program are sought for membership, since poor performers bring down aggregate earnings for the entire network. This strategy is allowing the network to grow into a large, yet select group of innovative and entrepreneurial pharmacies that have the desire to succeed in the program.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (May 13, 2002)
Derrick White recently assumed responsibility as Director of Data Center and Network Operations for eRx Network, LLC. White's primary responsibility will be to manage and grow a world-class, fault tolerant network infrastructure that can support the "always on" expectations of eRx's growing customer base. Prior to joining eRx, White was co-founder and CTO of SecureTrade, a Singapore-based startup which built an internet-enabled B2B payments network for the Asian markets. In addition to his experience in Asia, Mr. White worked for IBM Global Services in the federal sector, primarily designing portal implementations for the Federal government.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 20, 2001)
Rick Sage recently joined eRx Network, LLC as Vice President of Operations. Sage brings extensive experience in the retail pharmacy and pharmacy benefits management industry. Sage will be responsible for supporting and developing programs and strategic partnerships for our clients that offer value-added services including claims switching, pre-post edits, physician connectivity, and other services that enhance technology to the pharmacy. Sage earned his BS degree in Business Management and Economics from Illinois State University. Sage has been in the pharmacy industry since 1978 in a variety of roles including retail operations with Osco Drug, various corporate support roles with American Drug Stores and RxAmerica, and most recently leading healthcare systems for Albertsons.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 20, 2001)
ProxyMed, Inc. (NASDAQ: PILL), a leading provider of physician healthcare transaction processing services, and eRx Network, of Fort Worth, Texas, a provider of transaction processing services to retail pharmacy, announced today the signing of an agreement to interconnect their ePrescribing networks. The combination of Proxymed's PreScribe.net and eRx network's eRx Pad(TM) networks creates a widely available standards-based platform that provides true online bi-directional connectivity for physicians to securely exchange prescription-related messages with pharmacies.
ProxyMed's PreScribe.net ePrescribing network has been providing physician connectivity services to retail pharmacy chains Walgreens and Eckerd for over four years, and community pharmacy customers of QS/1 Data Systems for over two years. PreScribe.net's platform is based on the NCPDP Script Standard and currently has over 4,500 registered physicians connecting through a variety of physician office ePrescribing systems. eRx Network's eRx Pad(TM) is a standards-based ePrescribing network platform with connectivity currently available to all PDX pharmacy system customers. The PDX pharmacy system is used in more than 9,000 pharmacies nationwide. With PreScribe.net's current connectivity to Walgreens, Eckerd, and QS/1 pharmacies, the addition of the eRx Network creates an opportunity for ProxyMed to exchange online messages with pharmacies that dispense one-third of all prescriptions being filled annually in this country.
The interface between the PreScribe.net and eRx Pad(TM) networks has been in full production for over four months, with Publix Super Markets of Lakeland, Florida being the first eRx Network customer to take advantage of the joint service. Publix has been exchanging online prescription messages with ProxyMed's physician customers for over three months and is in the process of making the service available to their other pharmacy locations in Florida and the southeastern United States.
"It is our pleasure to welcome Publix to the PreScribe.net online community. Their addition brings great value to the services offered to our physician customers and their patients," said Jack Guinan, ProxyMed's Executive Vice President - Prescription Services. "Physician-to-pharmacy connectivity has been a classic chicken and egg problem. Through the efforts of our existing pharmacy customers, and now with the addition of eRx Network, the pharmacy side of the problem is clearly solved. ProxyMed can now turn its attention in 2002 to connecting physicians so that the value of this extensive pharmacy network can be realized."
"eRx believes in the value that a pharmacy-to-physician communication channel brings to both sets of providers as well as to the patient," said Mark Lyle, President of eRx Network. "The relationship with ProxyMed will help to greatly enhance this value to our PDX pharmacy system customers as all other eRx pharmacy customers."
About ProxyMed, Inc.
ProxyMed is an electronic healthcare transaction processing services company providing connectivity services and related value-added products to physicians, payers, pharmacies, medical laboratories, and other healthcare providers and suppliers. ProxyMed's electronic transaction processing services support a broad range of both financial and clinical transactions. To facilitate these services, ProxyMed operates ProxyNet©, its secure, proprietary national electronic information network, which provides physicians and other primary care providers with direct connectivity to one of the industries largest list of payers, the largest list of chain and independent pharmacies and the largest list of clinical laboratories.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (October 11, 2002)
eRx Network, LLC is pleased to announce the purchase of Allwin Data's Internet claims switching business. Allwin's customers will begin using eRx Connect(TM) - the real-time claims switching system - for a variety of transaction processing services that will enhance their business margins. Regarding the transaction with the Asheville, North Carolina-based company, Mark Lyle, president and CEO of eRx, said "With our state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated staff, we look forward to providing continued personal service to Allwin's claims switching customers and to offering new services like electronic prescriptions." The move will allow Allwin to focus on their DME capabilities and to move their switching operations to a company specializing in transaction processing. Allwin will retain an equity stake in eRx and will continue to have significant interest in the ongoing relationship with eRx.
Murray Lyle, president of Allwin Data, said, "We believe that this transaction is in the best interest of both our claims switching customers and our DME claims customers. eRx has invested significant capital in a state-of-the-art, multiple data center architecture, new generation software services, and a dedicated staff that understands pharmacy and the intricacies of transaction processing. As a result of the divestiture of our claims switching business to eRx, we will be able to increase our focus on improving our DME capabilities and services."
In addition to eRx Connect(TM), eRx offers the following value-added network services:
eRx PAD(TM), which allows pharmacy customers to connect through the eRx Network to physician offices and process prescription requests electronically.
eRx Edit(TM), a real-time network service that provides pre-post claims edit service (available in December of 2001).
eRx Warehouse(TM), which provides consolidated, non-patient specific prescription movement information to the pharmaceutical industry.
Allwin Data provides real-time DME claims processing, reconciliation and recovery services for the pharmacy community.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
BURLINGTON, VERMONT (October 11, 2001)
Fletcher Allen Outpatient Pharmacies, LLC, based in Burlington, VT, became the first PDX independent pharmacy customer to implement eRx Connect(TM) for its online claims adjudication. Jeffery Firlik, MSA, R.Ph., who serves as Director of Fletcher's Health Center Pharmacies said, "On our first day on eRx Network via the internet, we transmitted over 400 claims without a hitch! The speed is phenomenal compared to the previous method of transmitting through dial-up and the Quick Link(TM) Box [from WebMD®]. Once the bulletin boards were applied, set up was quick and easy. I look forward to receiving other eRx services as they become available."
To find out how eRx can help you transmit claims faster and less expensive, call 1-866-379-6389 or send an email. Firlik is available for questions by emailing him at jeffrey.firlik@vtmednet.org.
WebMD® is a registered trademark of WebMD Corporation.
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (August 14, 2001)
The nation's community pharmacies, represented by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), today announced the formation of SureScript Systems, Inc., a new venture to accelerate the adoption of an efficient, secure electronic system to directly connect prescribers and pharmacists.
SureScript Systems will provide a connection point for physician offices to efficiently reach the broadest possible number of pharmacies, and for those pharmacies to be able to communicate electronically with connected physicians.
"We are creating this company because we are convinced that a focal point is needed to help facilitate the rapid adoption of electronic communication between pharmacists and prescribers," said Calvin Anthony, Executive Vice President of NCPA and Co-Chairman of SureScript Systems.
"For an electronic system to be truly valuable to prescribers, it needs to connect them to as many pharmacies in their local market as possible. Our organizations, representing all of the nation's more than 50,000 community pharmacies, are uniquely positioned to launch a company that can bring the critical mass necessary for electronic connectivity to gain momentum in the marketplace," Anthony said.
Electronic communications through SureScript Systems will maximize health professionals' time with patients. Currently, too much of their workday is spent on routine telephone inquiries about prescription refill renewals, prescription clarifications, and insurance coverage preferences.
"Our goal is to create a direct, secure, and cost-efficient means for prescribers to communicate with pharmacies," said Craig Fuller, NACDS President and CEO and Co-Chairman of SureScript Systems. "Wide adoption of the SureScript system will improve patient care by reducing the time health professionals spend trying to communicate by telephone and decreasing the potential for medical error associated with handwritten prescriptions."
Organizers outlined several guiding principles in forming this venture, including the point that people, not computers, provide health care. "With SureScript, communications between a patient's pharmacist and doctor will now be direct and without interference by any third party," said Anthony.
"It is important to remember that drug utilization review services must be provided by a patient's local pharmacist, working directly with the patient's physician to ensure the most cost-effective drug therapy. E-connectivity is here and it is imperative that it develop in a way that preserves the crucial link between physicians, pharmacists, and their patients," he added.
In announcing the venture, organizers also committed to the principles of secure communications and strict patient confidentiality standards. SureScript Systems will not collect, store, or sell personally-identifiable prescription data.
"Consumers will have full confidence that their prescriptions will be transmitted securely, accurately and directly between their chosen health care professionals, ensuring their complete privacy and peace of mind," Fuller said.
In developing SureScript Systems, the organizers have been working closely with health information industry leaders NDCHealth, WebMD Corporation, and ProxyMed, Inc., in addition to eRx Network and other key pharmacy/health care technology companies.
"These health information industry leaders have been a tremendous help to us in developing plans for an electronic connectivity system that preserves physician and patient choice," said Fuller. "These companies share our goal of accelerating the adoption of electronic communications between prescribers and pharmacists. Drawing on their individual strengths, SureScript Systems will help bring a technologically strong solution to the market that can provide open connectivity for all."
Additionally, the organizers have retained PricewaterhouseCoopers, which will continue to assist with the market analysis, business plan development, and start-up activities. "We believe that improving communications within healthcare can be of significant benefit to patients, physicians, and pharmacists," said Steven Henkind, M.D., National Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"We know other companies share our goal of accelerating the adoption of efficient electronic connectivity of prescribers and pharmacies," said Anthony. "We welcome their support of this new initiative."
SureScript Systems is a non-stock membership company that will be governed by a Board appointed by NACDS and NCPA equally. Under an arrangement with SureScript Systems, current members of NACDS and NCPA will be offered immediate membership in the new company, with the ability to opt out at any time. Any other company that operates one or more community pharmacies will be eligible for membership in the new company.
Membership in SureScript Systems is not a requirement for connecting to the new system. All pharmacies, members or not, will be free to choose their own systems vendor to connect their pharmacies to the new networked system.
The company will be headquartered in Northern Virginia and anticipates an official launch later this year. The new company's organizers are engaged in active discussions with several strategic and vendor partners. Additional announcements are anticipated throughout the fall.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association collectively represent more than 55,000 community pharmacies nationwide and over 130,000 pharmacists who practice in those settings.
Contact: Phil Schneider, NACDS 703-549-3001; Todd Dankmyer, NCPA 703-683-8200
About eRx Network – Innovative solutions for pharmacy
eRx Network is a premier provider to the U.S. pharmacy industry of a secure, reliable and performance oriented network for e-commerce applications. eRx provides a number of productivity enhancing services including online and Internet switching of third party claims, value proven pre- and post- edit services, claims reconciliation services, electronic prescribing solutions, Medicare/Medicaid DME billing, and Medicare eligibility verification.
For more information about eRx Network, call toll free 1-866-379-6389,
contact us
or visit
www.erxnetwork.com
.
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