Across the healthcare industry, patients are demanding more transparency. They want control over their health and access to their healthcare data. And they’re right – patients should be at the center of the healthcare system, not on its margins.
One of the most promising areas for driving this shift is pharmacy access, especially around prescription medications. Today, nearly all providers use ePrescribing software, which can also provide real-time information on drug pricing and availability. Too few providers are sharing this information with patients – directly or via tools that put the information directly with patients – missing a critical opportunity to improve care and empower decision-making.
Patients care most about their health outcomes. Those of us designing healthcare software and services need to consider the patient experience. Doing so often solves problems upstream. Take medication adherence: Only about 50 percent of patients prescribed chronic medications follow their treatment plans – contributing to an estimated 125,000 preventable deaths and costing the U.S. healthcare system between $100B to $300B annually. Making it easier for patients to access and afford their medications can literally save lives.
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To support a more patient-centered approach to pharmacy, three key elements should be addressed at the point of prescription:
1. Insurance eligibility and coverage – Before a prescription is made, providers should be able to easily view and share eligibility and coverage information to help patients understand what’s covered, what isn’t, and what alternatives exist. This helps prevent delays and ensures patients receive timely treatment at a price they can afford.
2. Availability – Patients need to know where a medication is in stock. Providers’ technology vendors can opt in to share this information with patients through text notifications, preventing wasted trips to multiple pharmacies – or worse, patients abandoning the prescription altogether.
3. Pricing – Pricing varies significantly between pharmacies, yet patients often default to the nearest one without realizing better options may be available. It is possible to have a two-pronged approach to pricing transparency for patients: Providers can gain visibility to cost comparisons – including mail-order or online options – and patients can receive this information via text message and then make an informed decision on their own.
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According to a national survey, 33 percent of Americans don’t fill their prescriptions. The top reasons:
● Cost (30%)
● Forgetfulness (18%)
● Out-of-stock medication (17%)
● Transportation issues (17%)
A quick conversation about coverage, availability and pricing can help patients make informed decisions and leave the office confident that their medication is filled for the best possible price. This approach doesn’t just benefit patients – it also saves time for providers. Fewer follow-up calls about insurance coverage or pharmacy changes. Fewer instances of conditions that worsened because medication wasn’t taken.
Patients shouldn’t have to navigate multiple portals or sift through complex insurance documents to understand their options. What they want – and need – is a trusted provider who can clearly and simply explain their choices and give them direct access to information so they can act as informed consumers.
Photo by Flickr user Jernej Furman
Julian Herbert started his career in tech product development as a business analyst focused on e-commerce in the semiconductor industry. Following his curiosity, he became a management consultant at Deloitte and led M&A divestiture and integration engagements in a variety of industries, including pharma and biotech. He then transitioned back into product development and e-commerce at Amazon, launching machine learning solutions for 3rd party sellers on the platform. Julian was also tasked to lead product development for AWS Startups, building their first micro-targeted product line.
At DoseSpot, Julian leads product innovation, helping the company grow and deliver safe and reliable ePrescribing technology and software integrations across multiple healthcare markets. Julian is originally from Louisiana and graduated as valedictorian from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a B.S. in Computer Science. He also has an M.B.A. from The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, focusing on strategy and entrepreneurship.
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