Surescripts: E-prescription use rises 181% in 2009
E-prescribing in the U.S. witnessed an 181 percent increase as 190 milion prescriptions were routed electronically in 2009 versus 68 million in 2008, according to a report from e-prescription network Surescripts, in its 2009 progess report on e-prescribing. Of the 190 million, more than four million e-prescriptions were routed to mail order pharmacies.
Eighteen percent of prescriptions are not being sent electronically while e-prescribing is being used by one in four prescribers, according according to Surescripts, located in Alexandra, Va. Growth was seen in the use of prescription benefit, prescription history and prescription routing that support the e-prescribing process as well as in adoption by prescribers, payors and pharmacies between 2008 and 2009, the company said.
The report tracked the status of e-prescribing adoption, use in the U.S. and measures the growth of e-prescribing across a number of categories. Included in Surescripts analysis were:
Drivers of e-prescribing in 2009 included government incentives through programs such as the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and Health IT for Economic and Clinical Health Act, according to Surescripts. Additional drivers included the broadening of certification programs by Certification Commission for Health IT, increased adoption by large clinics and health system, government and nongovernmental organization education and awareness programs and state-and-regional-level initiatives.
To support the continued growth of e-prescribing, Surescripts recommended supporting the development of regional health information exchanges, promoting more focus on the utilization of e-prescribing technology, encouraging the Drug Enforcement Administration to finalize rules permitting the electronic transmission of prescriptions for controlled substance and advocating for the improvement in the maintaining of prescriber and pharmacy directories.
Eighteen percent of prescriptions are not being sent electronically while e-prescribing is being used by one in four prescribers, according according to Surescripts, located in Alexandra, Va. Growth was seen in the use of prescription benefit, prescription history and prescription routing that support the e-prescribing process as well as in adoption by prescribers, payors and pharmacies between 2008 and 2009, the company said.
The report tracked the status of e-prescribing adoption, use in the U.S. and measures the growth of e-prescribing across a number of categories. Included in Surescripts analysis were:
- Prescription Benefit Information: The number of electronic requests for prescription benefit information went from 79 million in 2008 to 303 million in 2009.
- Prescription History Information: The number of prescription histories delivered to prescribers grew more than five-fold, from 16 million in 2008 to 81 million in 2009.
- Prescriptions: By the end of 2009, approximately 18 percent of eligible prescriptions were prescribed electronically compared with just 6.6 percent at the end of 2008. The number of prescriptions routed electronically grew from 68 million in 2008 to 191 million in 2009.
- Prescribers: The number of prescribers routing prescriptions electronically grew from 74,000 at the end of 2008 to 156,000 by the end of 2009, representing 25 percent of all office-based prescribers.
- Pharmacies: At the end of 2009, approximately 85 percent of community pharmacies and six of the largest mail-order pharmacies in the U.S. were able to receive prescriptions electronically.
Drivers of e-prescribing in 2009 included government incentives through programs such as the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and Health IT for Economic and Clinical Health Act, according to Surescripts. Additional drivers included the broadening of certification programs by Certification Commission for Health IT, increased adoption by large clinics and health system, government and nongovernmental organization education and awareness programs and state-and-regional-level initiatives.
To support the continued growth of e-prescribing, Surescripts recommended supporting the development of regional health information exchanges, promoting more focus on the utilization of e-prescribing technology, encouraging the Drug Enforcement Administration to finalize rules permitting the electronic transmission of prescriptions for controlled substance and advocating for the improvement in the maintaining of prescriber and pharmacy directories.