Wall Street Journal examines efforts to encourage adoption of electronic prescribing technology

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined several factors that are pushing physicians to adopt electronic prescribing technology, reporting that while the "possible benefits to doctors and patients are clear," there are obstacles that "hinder widespread adoption." Fewer than 10%, or about 35,000, of U.S. physicians currently use e-prescribing technology.

In an effort to encourage small and rural-based physicians and pharmacies to adopt the technology, private health insurers are providing financial incentives or assistance to offset costs. For example, WellPoint offers higher payments to physicians in Ohio and the Northeast who use e-prescribing, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts subsidizes e-prescribers' costs in the state for one year through the corporate coalition eRX Collaborative.

State and national programs are being established to help physicians with problems they could face during the transition phase, as well as costs.

In addition, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Physician Assistants this week announced their support for Get Connected, a new program that provides clinical software evaluations and advice, the Journal reports. Computer programs also can alert physicians and pharmacies to low-cost, generic versions of costly medications that would be covered under the patient's health plan (Knight, Wall Street Journal, 6/17).