CalPERS To Launch Electronic Prescribing Pilot Program
Next month, CalPERS will launch a pilot program to study how electronic prescribing can improve patient safety and reduce health care costs, the Sacramento Business Journal reports (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 3/23).
CalPERS provides health care benefits to nearly 1.3 million public employees in the state. CalPERS said its new pilot is the largest e-prescribing initiative in the state and possibly nationwide (Calvan, Sacramento Bee, 3/24).
The project, sponsored jointly by Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Medco Health Solutions, will continue through 2010 (Sacramento Business Journal, 3/23).
E-Prescribing Adoption
In 2007, 1.2% of prescriptions written by clinics and private practice physicians were filed electronically in California, according to the California HealthCare Foundation.
Nationally, 4% of all eligible medications were prescribed electronically in 2008, according to SureScripts, the country's largest e-prescribing network (Sacramento Bee, 3/24).
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) health care reform proposal would require all California health care providers to e-prescribe by 2010 (Sacramento Business Journal, 3/23).
CHCF publishes California Healthline.
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.