EPN - Electronic Prescribing News

Health insurance companies could save about $575 a month for each physician who uses an electronic prescribing system developed by Wellinx Inc. of Creve Coeur, according to a study published Tuesday in the Annals of Family Medicine.

The study found that health insurers with at least a 35 percent market share could save that amount for each primary-care physician in their network in the first six months. After the formal study ended, researchers found that the monthly savings continued to grow, reaching more than $1,000 for each physician.

Other electronic prescribing systems have been on the market for years, and at least one has been shown to have little impact on costs.

But Wellinx says its system is different, because the company doesn't receive money from drug makers. Instead, it relies on medical evidence, which allows doctors to weigh the research on a prescription against the cost.

The system also reminds doctors and patients which medications have the lowest co-pay amounts for patients.

Patients who are struggling to afford drugs are less likely to take their medications or to take them as directed, said Dr. David C. Kibbe, director of health information technology for the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Here's how the Wellinx system works: The doctor makes a diagnosis and enters it into a computer. A list of drugs pops up on the screen, putting the doctor a couple of mouse clicks away from information on cost, efficacy and safety. Wellinx's team of pharmacists compiles the information.

The doctor then weighs cost versus effectiveness and chooses a prescription that's right for the patient's condition and budget.

Dr. Tom Doerr, founder of Wellinx and one of six co-authors of the study, said the system is like a "Consumer Reports" for doctors. He said doctors direct about 80 percent of the nation's health care spending, but they often base prescribing decisions on incomplete information provided by drug companies.

"Even if doctors want to practice fiscally responsible medicine, they can't," Doerr said.

The challenge for companies such as Wellinx will be convincing doctors and health insurers to buy the technology, Doerr said.

"If we can prove cost savings, then maybe we can get the payers to open up their wallets," Doerr said.

Electronic prescribing systems promise cost savings and higher quality medicine with fewer errors. Still, high startup costs and confusing software have made the majority of physicians reluctant to buy. Only about 6 percent of doctors nationwide prescribe electronically, according to SureScripts Systems Inc., a software company.

Medicare is trying to speed up adoption of these systems. Health plans participating in the new Medicare prescription drug program must have electronic prescribing in place by 2009.

Physicians say payers, such as health insurers and the government, will see the savings from these systems, so they should pay for the software and equipment.

Some insurers disagree. "I don't think it's UnitedHealth Group's business to buy technology for physicians," said Tim Heady, head of UnitedHealth's pharmacy-benefit program. "That's not to say we don't want to help support physicians, but buying technology for a physician is generally not a reasonable business direction for us to go in."

UnitedHealth Group operates Internet sites where patients and doctors can find information on the latest research and compare co-pays for different medications, Heady said.

The health insurer already encourages evidence-based medicine through its tiered co-pay system, Heady said, so there's no guarantee UnitedHealth would see the same level of cost-savings or that doctors would participate.

Reporter Mary Jo Feldstein
E-mail: mjfeldstein@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8209