CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Point-of-Care Partners, a leading health information technology (HIT) strategy and management consulting firm, has launched the ePA State Navigator -- a recurring reference publication to enable health IT vendors, payers and pharmacies to quickly assess the evolving regulatory environment for the electronic prior authorization (ePA) of prescription medications.

Today, the majority of prescription prior authorization (PA) requests are completed through time-consuming, manual processes amongst prescribers, health plans and pharmacies. "These processes cost the industry billions of dollars annually and can prevent patients from starting a medication therapy for days or even weeks," said Tony Schueth, CEO and Managing Partner at Point-of-Care Partners (POCP). "Streamlining the medication PA process has become a priority in many states. Currently, 19 states have either mandated some form of medication ePA or have proposed mandates." 

In many states, prior authorization laws and rules are formed by an overlapping web of government agencies including insurance commissions as well as pharmacy boards. The ePA State Navigator allows stakeholders to readily understand the varied approaches that states are taking to address PA inefficiency, and it enables health care stakeholders to be proactive in complying with rapidly evolving changes in the ePA ecosystem.  

Health plans use prior authorization to better manage drug utilization and the use of high cost medications such as specialty medications. According to the ePA National Adoption Scorecard, use of prescription prior authorization is increasing at a rate of 20% annually. Nearly 70% of patients, however, encountering paper-based PAs do not receive the original prescription and nearly 40% of pending prior authorizations are abandoned due to complex procedures and policies.

"There is strong momentum among EHRs and ePrescribing vendors, pharmacies and PBMs to build an integrated ePA process that seamlessly works within the ePrescribing workflow so that the entire process is seamless," Schueth said. "This approach connects all participants, and enables prescribers and pharmacies to provide information in real-time to support the PA decision-making process. As a result, it will dramatically improve patient access to medications."

About Point-of-Care Partners
Point-of-Care Partners is a health IT management consulting firm with in-depth expertise in ePrescribing, eMedication management, health information exchange, accountable care organizations, multi-stakeholder initiatives and other programs requiring health IT project management. To learn more about the ePA State Navigator, visit www.pocp.com/ePriorAuthStateNavigator or email resources@pocp.com.

Media Contact:

Jeanette Nelson
Point-of-Care Partners
330-837-1856
jeanette.nelson@pocp.com

SOURCE Point-of-Care Partners

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