Mass. Blues Require E-Prescribing
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts said it will require all physicians to prescribe electronically beginning in 2011 to qualify for any of the health plan's physician incentive programs. Currently, 99% of primary care physicians and 78% of specialists participate in the insurer's incentive programs, which reward physicians for meeting nationally recognized quality standards and patient safety goals. Currently, e-prescribing is an optional measure in the plan's incentive programs. The insurer said it realized that start-up costs involved with implementing an e-prescribing system continue to be a barrier to adoption for physicians, and said it would provide some financial assistance for doctors in 2009 to offset those start-up costs. A 2006 study by the plan showed that physicians who used an e-prescribing device were able to choose more cost-efficient drugs, and therefore saved 5% on their drug costs relative to physicians who did not use the technology.