Over Half of Prescribers Use Surescripts Real-Time Prescription Benefit

Over half of all US prescribers used Surescripts Real-Time Prescription Benefit health IT in May 2022, an uptick of 7.5 percent since December 2021.

The vendor also processed 33 percent more prior authorizations and 34 percent more real-time benefit checks electronically between January and May 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

“The continued growth and expansion we’re seeing with Real-Time Prescription Benefit and Electronic Prior Authorization means more providers are gaining access to patient-specific prescription drug cost and coverage information at the point of care,” Andrew Mellin, MD, chief medical information officer of Surescripts, said in a public statement. “That, in turn, means more patients are getting timely access to the medication they need at a price they can afford.”

Several EHR vendors have recently adopted Surescripts Real-Time Prescription Benefit and made it available to more users.

CompuGroup Medical increased their use of Real-Time Prescription Benefit in May 2022, making the health IT available to 8,000 prescribers who use their CGM eMDs platform. Similarly, Greenway Health brought the ePrescribing service to the 50,000 users in its network.

“With the rising cost of prescription drugs, physicians are seeking out ways to improve communication between pharmacies, provide better price transparency and make the delivery of medicine faster and more attainable,” said David Cohen, chief product and technology officer at Greenway Health.

“Providing real-time out-of-pocket prescription costs during the patient visit has the potential to save valuable time and improve medication adherence—all of which contribute to a more engaging and effective healthcare experience,” Cohen added.

athenahealth went live with Real-Time Prescription Benefit in 2020 and has more than 60,000 users. In March 2022, prescribers using Real-Time Prescription Benefit health IT through their athenahealth EHR saved patients an estimated $41.64 per prescription.

“One of the ways we can improve medication adherence is to help prescribers talk with their patients and consider both clinical and financial impacts of a medication before it’s prescribed,” said Nele Jessel, MD, chief medical officer of athenahealth.

“Real-Time Prescription Benefit simplifies the process, helping prescribers make medication decisions with greater price transparency, all without leaving their ePrescribing workflow,” Jessel continued.