Compulink E-Rx Protects Patients, Improves Efficiency and Earns a Medicare Bonus

Westlake Village, CA, February 1, 2009—E-Rx is a new feature of Compulink Advantage Software that enables eye care prescribers to submit prescriptions electronically to pharmacies, ensuring legible scripts and reducing errors when prescriptions are filled. Users are finding that the process is more efficient, and they earn a 2% bonus from Medicare for electronic prescribing.

Gorovoy MD Eye Specialists of Fort Myers, FL has been using Compulink E-Rx since January. While awaiting Compulink E-Rx rollout, they were using another electronic Rx system, and have found Compulink E-Rx to be superior.

“Compulink is far easier to use, as patient information transfers seamlessly and drug prescribing is easier due to the ability to save information. Once pharmacies are enrolled, they are very easy to connect with the patient Rx,” said Bob Lehet, Administrator, Gorovoy MD Eye Specialists.

Compulink e-Rx is an Internet-based system.  For current Compulink users, no dedicated hardware or software is required beyond a high-speed connection (including wireless, access from multiple offices, home, on-call).  

Compulink’s E-Rx interface directly connects prescribers with comprehensive clinical information on drugs, including drug interactions. This data bank encompasses every drug approved by the FDA, over-the-counter drugs and information on herbals, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

Compulink’s E-Rx system also provides formularies from 4500+ Health Plans, including Medicare Part D. 

As an E-Prescribing incentive, Medicare pays the prescriber 2% of their annual reimbursement amount. This program started in January but the prescriber can start later and still be compliant if they submit with PQRI codes on 50% of their claims for the entire calendar year.

“As long as the prescriber uses E-Rx for 50% of the Medicare encounters during the year, they get the bonus. You could start in May, and get it. This is easy money. If the doctors don’t see the benefit of this, they are leaving a lot of money on the table,” warned Jeff Grant, HCMA, Inc., Independent Practice Management Consultants for Compulink Business Systems, Inc.

Mr. Grant explained that if a practice submits $1 million in Medicare claims during 2009, it could be eligible for a $20,000 bonus. “This is the easiest $20,000 you will ever make,” he said.

The Medicare bonus for E-Prescribing will continue, but it will taper off during the next three years. In 2012, Medicare will begin to penalize prescribers who do not E-Prescribe.

Mr. Lehet notes that Compulink E-Rx ensures prescribers are providing the highest level of patient care: “Misinterpretation of physician handwriting is the one patient care area that has improved.  There is no more worrying if the patient is getting what they need.  We control the script and we can determine drug interaction easily.”

The benefits of Compulink E-Rx apply whether or not the practice has converted to Electronic Medical Records (EMR).

“We have not migrated to EMR as of yet and this allows our technicians to experience computer driven health care without having to sacrifice tech efficiency.  When we do migrate to EMR our techs will have computer skills that will allow them to learn the system much easier,” asserts Mr. Lehet.

Features of Compulink E-Rx include:

• Complete prescribing record accessible from anywhere
• Display of allergies and medications 
• Electronic prescription delivery 
• Electronic renewal processing and electronic faxing  
• Patient coupons encourage compliance
• Allergy, drug and pregnancy interaction review 
• Patient hand-outs in 18 languages
• 4500+ managed care formularies, including Medicare Part D and Medicaid
• Managed care interface