April 22, 2009
Electronic Prescribing Sees Significant Growth
According to Surescripts' Annual National Progress Report on E-Prescribing, adoption of electronic prescribing has increased significantly since 2006, but further action must be taken to continue its growth.
The report details the status of e-prescribing adoption and use in the U.S. from 2006 through 2008. According to the report, more than 100,000 prescribers now are transmitting e-prescriptions. The report described 74,000 active e-prescribers by the end of 2008, compared with 36,000 at the end of 2007 and 16,000 in 2006.
Interestingly, the use of three critical e-prescribing components -- electronic prescription benefit, history and routing -- increased by 61% in the first quarter of 2009.
The report attributes the increase in e-prescribing to three factors:
* The attention e-prescribing received at the federal and state policy level;
* National programs that spur e-prescribing and offer practical tools to help the industry in adoption; and
* The adoption of e-prescribing by important groups, such as payers, subscribers and pharmacies.
Surescripts E-Prescribing Statistics Page
National Progress Report on E-Prescribing (pdf)
Source iHealthBeat