Merritt: Policymakers Recognize the Importance of EMRs Including E-Prescribing  

(Washington, DC)- As both the U.S. Senate and House work to complete health-information technology (HIT) provisions within the economic recovery package, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) today sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives outlining concerns with several medical privacy provisions in the current House legislation.

PCMA represents the nation’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which have demonstrated a proven ability to generate tremendous efficiencies managing prescription drug benefits through the use of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) and other technologies for the 200-plus million Americans with coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.

“We are encouraged that policymakers recognize the importance in funding EMRs which use e-prescribing,” said PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt.   “However, spending billions on new HIT systems that contain unworkable privacy provisions would waste an historic opportunity to improve chronic care and prevent countless medical errors and hospitalizations.”