Let's take a look at what's happening in the world of pharmacy and healthcare.
First Surescripts’ Unmatched Healthcare Interoperability Delivered Intelligence Sharing at Scale in 2023
Surescripts has reported a significant increase in patient information sharing in 2023. According to new data in the 2023 National Progress Report, nearly 24 billion exchanges of clinical and benefit data occurred, connecting over 2 million care providers and reaching almost the entire US population.
This achievement highlights Surescripts' leading role in advancing healthcare interoperability. However, the company emphasizes the many benefits for patients, including reducing medication costs, improving access to care in areas with primary care provider shortages, and expediting the medication dispensing process.
The report also identifies counties most affected by PCP shortages and the growing role of pharmacists in addressing this gap. Pharmacists witnessed the highest growth in electronic prescribing in 2023.
Surescripts' data showcases increased utilization of their services, including:
A substantial rise in the number of clinical documents shared.
Delivery of nearly 3 billion medication histories to aid in accurate medication reviews.
Processing of over 2.5 billion electronic prescriptions, including controlled substances.
Real-time prescription benefit checks leading to cost savings for patients.
A surge in secure messaging communication among healthcare providers.
Growth in electronically processed prior authorizations.
Surescripts' report emphasizes the company’s commitment to improving healthcare access, affordability, and efficiency through continued advancements in information sharing.
Next, In More News about Surescripts, Spectator Health Enhances Senior Care with Integration of eRx Capabilities
Spectator Health has announced the integration of Surescripts e-prescribing capabilities into their platform. This integration aims to improve medication safety and management for seniors by offering real-time medication analytics for proactive identification of potential issues. Additionally, e-prescribing streamlines the prescription process for caregivers and providers in senior living communities.
Spectator Health states that a commitment to reducing medication risks for seniors was a key driver behind this collaboration with Surescripts.
The integration offers various functionalities, including comprehensive medication history access; real-time cost and insurance checks; and electronic prescribing capabilities in various care settings
This integration complements Spectator Health's existing platform features like charting, clinician notes, and a mobile app for caregivers.
Next, OmniSYS XiFin Pharmacy Transformation Study Reveals Opportunities and Challenges
A new study by OmniSYS, the pharmacy division of XiFin, explores the evolving landscape of pharmacy services and the industry's efforts to meet consumer needs, improve access to healthcare, and address equity concerns. The study, titled "OmniSYS XiFin Pharmacy Transformation Research," surveyed over 500 pharmacy professionals and organizations to gain insights into their experiences and perspectives.
Among the opportunities identified:
Nearly 75% of respondents identified an expanded role for pharmacists as a top growth opportunity, envisioning pharmacists playing a larger role in filling primary care gaps and contributing to health and wellness initiatives.
Excluding immunizations, 81% of participants reported already offering clinical services like diabetes self-management training and birth control consultations. However, over 70% of these respondents cited reimbursement and medical billing complexities as barriers to further expansion.
A shift towards value-based care was identified as a potential solution to the reimbursement challenge, aligning incentives with positive patient outcomes.
Among the challenges identified:
Financial constraints, including reimbursements, medication shortages, and staff shortages emerged as major concerns.
Over 60% of respondents offering clinical services reported difficulties with medical billing capabilities.
41% of respondents offering diabetes self-management training, for example, indicated collections rates below 50%, highlighting financial challenges associated with new services.
The study also explores the current state of clinical services offered by pharmacies, with immunizations, chronic care management, and durable medical equipment being the most prevalent. It identifies emerging trends and offers predictions, such as the potential for pharmacists to directly bill insurance carriers and the growing interest in telehealth and digital health tools. It also notes the impact of service expansion on revenue, with chronic care management and diabetes training identified as areas with high potential.
The full report and a corresponding webinar offer deeper insights and recommended strategies for navigating these opportunities and challenges.
And Finally, CenterWell Pharmacy Launches New Mobile App
CenterWell Pharmacy, a division of Humana, has launched a redesigned mobile app to simplify medication management. This user-friendly app empowers customers to:
Seamlessly manage prescriptions by easily checking costs, refilling prescriptions, setting up auto-refills, and transferring prescriptions from other pharmacies.
Track orders and access real-time information by viewing order status and accessing important information about medications and over-the-counter (OTC) products.
Save time and shop conveniently by ordering OTC products alongside medications with free shipping.
The app's intuitive design and user-friendly interface cater to all tech-savviness levels, promoting improved medication adherence and overall health outcomes.
The CenterWell Pharmacy mobile app has nearly 8 million annual visits. It is available on iOS and Android devices.
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News | Surescripts Progress Report, New OmniSYS Study on Expanding Pharmacy Services, Senior Medication Safety, and Pharmacy Apps