eRx slashes e-script pricing
May 25, 2010
THE Guild-backed eRx Script
Exchange yesterday announced a
major shift in policy, which will make
dispensing of electronic scripts
“effectively free for all pharmacies”.
The move will see eRx lower its
transaction fee to match the 15c
incentive payment under the Fifth
Community Pharmacy Agreeement,
which was announced earlier this
month (PD 04 May) and which is
due to commence on 01 July.
It also follows feedback from a
number of Pharmacy Daily readers
who asked us to point out that the
15c per script payment under the
Agreement originally only partly
funded the costs charged by the
eRx or Medisecure electronic
exchanges (PD Fri).
eRx has also gone further, by
agreeeing to exchange all
electronic scripts not currently
funded by the Fifth Agreement
incentive scheme at no cost -
including private and pharmacyoriginated
originals and repeats.
Graham Cunningham, eRx Script
Exchange chairman, said the policy
is “motivated by a commitment to
maintaining a straightforward and
cost-neutral approach for users.
“We believe that this is a vital
step in providing an e-script service
that is both comprehensive and
easy to understand, but also in
removing any cost concerns about
e-scripts,” Cunningham said.
He said that while the
announcement of the 15c incentive
is “extremely positive for the future
of e-health in Australia”, eRx would
have preferred an approach that
includes all prescriptions.
Cunningham said the selective
nature of the incentive could lead
to confusion and also lower the
future benefits of e-scripts such as
contributing complete patient
medication history to the govt’s
Electronic Health Record.
“Our new pricing cpolicy allows
us to continue discussions on these
outstanding issues while we
implement eRx fully across
Australia for all prescriptions”.
eRx says more than 3700 doctors
and 2000 pharmacies are already
using its system for electronic
prescribing and dispensing, with
over 8.5 million scripts already
safely, securely and accurately
completed since its Apr 09 launch.
Cunningham warned that eRx
may not be able to maintain its
cost-neutral approach indefinitely,
but would continue to work with
partners, government and the
industry in an attempt to do so.
Any pricing policy changes will be
advised with at least 60 days notice
in advance, he said.
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