The high cost of prescription drugs is one of the top causes of patient medication non-adherence, resulting in avoidable emergency department and hospital admissions, as well as longer term poor patient outcomes. With the transition to value-based care finally becoming a reality, this challenge must be addressed — and quickly — by leading healthcare organizations.
To address this critical issue, UnitedHealthcare and DrFirst has announced the launch of PreCheck MyScript, a new app that delivers precise prescription cost information at the point of care, driving better medication adherence while improving clinician workflows and productivity.
PreCheck MyScript provides precise cost information at the point of drug prescribing based on the patient’s benefit plan, and gives care providers patient-specific pharmacy information and details of their insurance coverage. It also automates prior authorizations when needed, eliminating the need for phone calls or faxes. This helps lower costs and results in more timely prescriptions, less administrative hassle and a better patient experience.
Physicians who prescribe a medication using PreCheck MyScript will be able to view exact prescription pricing information for the selected pharmacy and will be alerted to prescription drugs that require prior authorization, are not covered or are non-preferred. PreCheck MyScript will provide alternative, lower-cost medications or prescriptions that may not require prior authorization before they are sent to the pharmacy. If the drug requiring prior authorization is still prescribed, physician practices can submit the authorization online, and in some instances receive instant approval.
The solution can be embedded directly into the care provider’s EMR, allowing physicians to view prior-authorization information and drug costs, and send the prescription to the pharmacy without having to switch applications, further driving efficiencies.
For example, OptumRx and UnitedHealthcare are working with DrFirst, Allscripts and other EMR partners to integrate these capabilities at the point of care for prescribers. By embedding the solution directly into the care provider’s EMR, physicians can seamlessly view prior-authorization information and drug costs, and send the prescription to the pharmacy without having to switch applications
“By making it easier for doctors to access pricing and coverage data, we foster more open communication between physicians and their patients about drug costs and quality, thereby improving health outcomes and the patient experience,” said G. Cameron Deemer, president of DrFirst in a statement. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with UnitedHealthcare to improve physician-pharmacy workflow and patient satisfaction.”