A coalition of consumer, union, business, purchaser groups, and other prescription drug stakeholders is calling on Congress to ensure that physicians use e-prescribing in Medicare by 2010.
Currently, less than one-in-10 physicians use this technology. In a letter to congressional committee leaders, the coalition called on policymakers to implement a safety requirement that e-prescribing is used for all Part D prescriptions.
According to Washington-based PCMA (Pharmaceutical Care Management Association), the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers, requiring e-prescribing in Medicare could prevent 1.9 million adverse drug events over the next 10 years.
Those who signed the letter to Chairmen Charles Rangel, John Dingell and Max Baucus and Ranking Members Jim McCrery, Joe Barton and Charles Grassley include:
Consumer/Labor Groups
Consumers Union
Families USA
National Consumers League
National Partnership for Women & Families
SEIU
AFL-CIO
International Union, United Auto Workers
Business/Public Purchasers
HR Policy Association
The ERISA Industry Committee
Aetna
The Corporate Health Care Coalition (CHCC)
The National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Pension Plans
Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System
The Public Sector HealthCare Roundtable
Pacific Business Group on Health
Prescription Drug Stakeholders
Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
Walgreens
RxHub
The Coalition for a Competitive Pharmaceutical Market (CCPM)
Apotex
The Generic Pharmaceutical Association
