AHRQ Takes a Look at E-Prescribing Issues

According tot his post on FierceHealthIT the AHRQ wants to know how many medical practices have successfully implemented functional e-prescribing systems and what factors hurt and help adoption.

The biggest problem that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has encountered is that most e-prescribing systems do not have the same features, and so rolling out with a national system might be difficult. Also, pharmacies are having trouble with e-prescribing software and integrating it into workflow. Because of this, the AHRQ is planning to conduct a 2 year survey which will include physicians, medical directors, IT administrators, pharmacists and other relevant staff members at 110 organizations as participants.

Encouraging patients to take medicine on time

In a recent article at Fierce Healthcare, they note that the New England Healthcare Institute is bringing a group of individuals together to strategize on ways that will encourage patients to take their medicines in prescribed doses at the correct times. They're looking at strategies that include strategies, packaging and financial incentives. Read more about their effort here.

To network with health plan and pharma professionals involved in medication and treatment compliance initiatives, join our LinkedIn group.

New York hospitals accused of Medicare fraud

According to Fierce Health Care, seven New York hospitals have been accused of Medicare fraud. In total the fraud amounts to $50 million as a result of paying kickbacks to get more patients into treatment programs.

One of the hospitals is accused of paying people to search homeless shelters for patients to stay three days in detox. Worse still, the seven hospitals involved were part of a government treatment program, but they didn't have a state license as required.