US insurer launches electronic Rx monitoring
US pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions has launched a program to analyse prescriptions for patients with chronic illnesses in order to allow 700 of its specialized pharmacists to evaluate the recommended treatments for up to seven conditions, including cancer and diabetes.
The PBM's aim is to identify potential prescribing errors, adverse interactions with other prescription drugs and analyse patient behavior, according to the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF). In particular, Medco hopes to identify cases where switching medication might be advisable or where patients may not be refilling prescription requests as directed by physicians.
The Washington Post reports that the Medco initiative is far from unique. WellPoint, the largest US insurer according to the Post, is planning to launch a similar scheme to cover 14 diseases. Express Scripts and CVS Caremark, both PBMs, also offer similar services for patients suffering from chronic conditions.
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