Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5317

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Bell DS, Friedman MA.
E-prescribing and the medicare modernization act of 2003. Paving the on-ramp to fully integrated health information technology?
Health Aff (Millwood) 2005 Sep-Oct 01; 24:(5):1159-69
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/24/5/1159

Abstract:

Provisions of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 are intended to foster electronic prescribing by requiring standards for interoperability and by permitting third parties to offset implementation costs. Although physicians have been slow to embrace e-prescribing, adoption may increase in 2006, when a new tide of pharmacy messages will arrive from patients entering multi-tier drug coverage under Medicare. However, the e-prescribing systems selected may lack the advanced features needed to improve patient safety and chronic disease control. To optimize the return on Medicare drug spending, the government should consider additional incentives to spur the uptake of more advanced systems.

Keywords:
Health Care Reform* Humans Internet* Medicare/legislation & jurisprudence* Prescriptions, Drug* Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. United States