Panel: HIT policies need better linkage to medication adherence

A panel convened by the policy institute Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI) and Prescriptions for a Healthy America asserts that health IT policy needs to focus more on specific goals to foster improved medication adherence, according to a press statement. The panel discussion took place on Jan. 31 at the NEHI-hosted “Connected Health, Better Adherence” roundtable in Washington, D.C.

The panel championed several goals including electronic access to accurate medication lists and complete drug formulary information for prescribing physicians. The panel also supports a realignment of payment priorities that encourages use of existing health IT capabilities that may be underutilized.

"There is room in health IT policy for specific priorities that will sharpen the focus on patient medication adherence,” said NEHI executive director Valerie Fleishman in a statement. "But our panel also made clear that much can be done to exploit existing health IT capabilities and existing sources of data that are not being utilized for lack of payment support.”