Reports look at benefits, barriers to e-prescribing

A new report from the Center for Health Transformation looks at the benefits of electronic prescribing and barriers to its widespread adoption. Among other actions, the report calls for a physician payment model that rewards physicians who use information technology; finalizing e-prescribing standards for prior authorization, patient instructions and drug name; and regulatory changes to allow e-prescribing of pain and other controlled medications.

The paper was written collaboratively by center members. According to a similar report released June 11 by eHealth Initiative and the Center for Improving Medication Management, more than 35 million prescriptions were processed electronically in 2007. That’s 170% more than in 2006, but only 2% of eligible prescriptions, the authors said.

[ via AHA News Now ]