Business

New Jersey Blues plan offers e-prescribing freebies

The plan is spending $3 million to get doctors to switch to electronic prescribing.

By Tyler Chin — Posted May 16, 2005

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is launching a $3 million electronic prescribing program as part of what the plans says is an effort to improve patient safety, care and lower costs.

Under the program, the insurer will give free electronic prescribing software to the first 700 physicians, out of approximately 10,000 high prescribers in its network, who sign up for it. To entice doctors, Newark, N.J.-based Horizon is not only funding the cost of the software, but also the cost of wireless personal digital assistants, said Jay Patel, the plan's manager of business development.

The Blues plan also will cover the cost of training physicians and supporting e-prescribing software from Caremark Rx Inc., a Nashville, Tenn.-based pharmacy benefit manager. Doctors, however, will have to pay for a high-speed Internet connection.

It remains to be seen whether the offer of free software and support will be enough to lure physicians into ditching their prescription pads. Other insurers have unsuccessfully attempted to encourage doctors to prescribe electronically by offering free software, hardware or both. In 2004, for example, WellPoint Inc., Indianapolis, rolled out a $42 million program under which it offered 19,000 doctors in four states a choice of either a handheld-based e-prescribing system or a desktop-based practice management system. An overwhelming majority -- 88% -- opted for the administrative rather than clinical system.

Horizon is well aware that giveaways haven't fared well or led doctors to alter their prescribing behavior on a permanent basis, Patel said. That's one reason why its "package" includes paying for physician training and support.

Also, Horizon will pay doctors quarterly financial incentives in order to sustain their use of the system after it's installed. The Blues anticipates that the incentives, based on the percentage of prescriptions physicians write, will be available for at least one year, Patel said.

The insurer expects that it will have to approach 7,000 physicians in order to sign 700, he said, based on a projected sign-up rate of 10%.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn