BCBSA Statement: Medicare E-Prescribing Requirement Gains Momentum With AHIC Decision To Draft Policy Guidance

Statement from Scott P. Serota, president and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

November 14, 2007

WASHINGTON – Scott P. Serota, president and chief executive officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), released the following statement in response to yesterday's decision by the American Health Information Community (AHIC) to draft policy guidance on Medicare e-prescribing:

"As a board member of the American Health Information Community (AHIC), I am greatly encouraged by AHIC's decision to move one step closer to recommending that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) be given the statutory authority to require Medicare physicians to use e-prescribing technology.  By agreeing to draft policy guidance for CMS, AHIC is providing a much-needed shot-in-the-arm to making a Medicare e-prescribing requirement a reality this year for Medicare beneficiaries.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) believes strongly that physicians should be required to submit prescriptions for Part D benefits electronically by 2010.  Recognizing that this timeframe could pose a burden on small practices and solo practitioners, Congress should allow an exception for certain small providers.

Last year, the Institute of Medicine (IoM) estimated that preventable medication errors cost the healthcare system $77 billion annually and resulted in 7,000 deaths per year.  To address this crisis, the IoM called for adoption of e-prescribing by 2010.

Despite concerted efforts by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, large employers, and others to meet this timetable, physician adoption of e-prescribing remains surprisingly low.  The time is right to move this priority forward.  Seniors and disabled beneficiaries deserve to be protected from avoidable medication errors - and the solution starts with requiring e-prescribing in Medicare."