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The PrescribeWellness automated, personalized communication focuses on delivering the right message at the right time in the right language in the actual voice of the independent pharmacist. The company has executed millions of targeted patient interactions using its “Voice of Authority” solution in the 12 states where the program has been operational and has been documented to improve medication adherence. The plan with APA is for an initial regional rollout, moving to full national coverage by September.
OutcomesMTM Selected by Amerigroup for MTM Services OutcomesMTM will be administering medication therapy management (MTM) services for Amerigroup’s Medicaid members in Texas, Kansas, and Louisiana. Amerigroup is among more than 40 U.S. health plans that have adopted the OutcomesMTM platform, which connects such plans with over 65,000 local chain, independent, consultant, and health-system pharmacy providers across the country. Through the program participating pharmacists receive alerts and information concerning medication use patterns, as well as guidance on working with patients and doctors to close key therapy gaps. In 2012 the company named Walgreens as the top-
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performing large pharmacy chain and Kerr Drug as the top regional chain, while 25 chains and independent pharmacies meeting the OutcomesMTM criteria for “top performers” were selected across the country.
Surescripts Increases Care Collaboration Users NewCrop, LLC, a leading provider of technology relied on by more than 130 electronic health record (EHR) providers and 30,000 physicians, will connect to the Surescripts Network for Clinical Interoperability. This connectivity will enable physicians using EHRs with NewCrop technology to securely exchange clinical information across practices, hospitals, and other healthcare entities nationwide. NewCrop serves small physician practices, primarily in family practice, ophthalmology, and cardiology, in New York, California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri. NewCrop joins Epic, GE, Medent, NextGen, and others as EHR technology providers connected to the Surescripts Network for Clinical Interoperability.
PQA and CECity Launch New Joint Venture The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) and CECity.com have created a joint venture to deliver EQuIPP (Electronic Quality Improvement Platform for Plans and Pharmacies). This is the first national pharmacy quality measurement, benchmarking, and reporting platform for pharmacies and health plans. It measures the quality of patient medication use, including nonadherence, and makes this measurement available and understandable. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) brought attention to the quality of medication use through the Medicare Part D star ratings program, which assesses plan performance against PQA measures. The role of appropriate medication use in a high-value healthcare system was reinforced by a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office that indicates that a 1% increase in prescriptions filled by Medicare beneficiaries