Most think of Massachusetts as a pioneer, good or bad, when it comes to health care and insurance reform. They were the first, and still are, to pass a universal health insurance law that requires just about every resident to have coverage.
Since Massachusetts passed that law, their health insurance policy activities have been a frequent subject on the Coverage Corner. The latest news from Massachusetts is their biggest health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, will require all their network doctors to use e-prescriptions by 2011.
BCBS of Massachusetts says this will streamline prescribing drugs- reducing medical errors, avoiding harmful drug interactions, and reducing pharmacy costs.
Doctors must make the switch by 2011 otherwise they won't be eligible for bonus payments from BCBS. "Our incentive [e-prescription] programs are designed to reward doctors for taking steps to improve the quality of outcomes for patients, and e-prescribing has certainly proven to increase quality of care," said BCBS of Massachusetts chief physician executive, Dr. John Fallon.
The only drawback for doctors switching is the fee of up to $3,500 for switching to e-prescriptions. To combat that, BCBS says they will assist some of the network's physicians with that cost, reports the Boston Globe. The Globe also reports that they will face a few obstacles, including the fact that federal law prohibits the electronic prescription of controlled substances. - 15224
Since Massachusetts passed that law, their health insurance policy activities have been a frequent subject on the Coverage Corner. The latest news from Massachusetts is their biggest health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, will require all their network doctors to use e-prescriptions by 2011.
BCBS of Massachusetts says this will streamline prescribing drugs- reducing medical errors, avoiding harmful drug interactions, and reducing pharmacy costs.
Doctors must make the switch by 2011 otherwise they won't be eligible for bonus payments from BCBS. "Our incentive [e-prescription] programs are designed to reward doctors for taking steps to improve the quality of outcomes for patients, and e-prescribing has certainly proven to increase quality of care," said BCBS of Massachusetts chief physician executive, Dr. John Fallon.
The only drawback for doctors switching is the fee of up to $3,500 for switching to e-prescriptions. To combat that, BCBS says they will assist some of the network's physicians with that cost, reports the Boston Globe. The Globe also reports that they will face a few obstacles, including the fact that federal law prohibits the electronic prescription of controlled substances. - 15224
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