Cerner and CoverMyMeds integrate prescription prices and a patient's ability to pay within EHR

Healthcare IT company Cerner has collaborated with CoverMyMeds, which is part of McKesson, to integrate prescription prices and patient-specific information into the electronic health record for providers and patients to review the cost before a drug is prescribed.

The CoverMyMeds' RxBenefit Clarity solution is integrated into the Cerner ePrescribe workflow. It leverages information from pharmacy network and payers on patient pay and benefits.

THE IMPACT

Knowing both the prescription price and a patient's ability to pay is expected to inform providers' clinical decisions and help avoid non-adherence when a patient can't afford the prescribed drug.

THE TREND

The prescription price transparency is coming at a time when  hospitals, starting January 1, are required to publicly post their prices. Hospital officials have voiced concern that the chargemaster "rack rate" of what a service costs does not give patients any better idea of what they'll end up paying.

Another Centers for Medicare and Medicaid proposed rule that came out in October requires drug makers to post the list prices of drugs in television ads.

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW

Cerner clients can integrate, at no charge, the CoverMyMeds RxBenefit Clarity solution into the clinical workflow of the Cerner Millennium health IT platform through Cerner ePrescribe. The program is currently live across 261 hospitals and health systems and nearly 1,600 clinics.

CoverMyMeds is part of McKesson Prescription Technology Solutions. The network covers more than 500 EHR systems, 62,000 pharmacies, 700,000 providers and most health plans and PBMs.

ON THE RECORD

"It is difficult for providers to have informed discussions with their patients that would help drive adherence when they don't have accurate visibility into prescription price information and available assistance programs," said Miranda Gill, director of clinical innovation, CoverMyMeds. "We provide patient-specific benefit information to help inform providers' clinical decisions and communication with patients that help solve for costly nonadherence, and ultimately, help patients receive the medications they need to be healthy."

"As healthcare spending increases, the need for prescription price transparency is becoming as important as ever. Access to valuable pricing information gives healthcare providers the opportunity to provide their patients with up-to-date information on the most appropriate and cost-effective medications before they reach the pharmacy," said John Peterzalek, chief client officer, Cerner.

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com