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Highmark's leading-edge initiative was announced in June in thePennsylvania marketplace to introduce e-Prescribing/eHealth technology toeligible physicians. Highmark will pay up to 75 percent of the cost for aphysician's office to acquire, install and implement eligible e-prescribingsystems, up to a maximum $7,000 per physician. Highmark is once againdemonstrating its stature and vision in the industry by being one of the firsthealth plans to support a meaningful e-prescribing implementation since theintroduction of the recent Medicare Improvements for Patients and ProvidersAct (MIPPA). This new legislation recognizes the positive impact ofe-prescribing on patient safety and the cost of healthcare and providesmeaningful incentives to physicians to begin using e-prescribing by January 1,2009. These incentives are critical to the adoption and on-going usage ofe-prescribing but do not address the upfront cost of technology acquisitionand implementation. Highmark's e-Prescribing/eHealth Initiative addressesthis last remaining obstacle and, as a result, physicians, patients andemployers in Pennsylvania will benefit due to accelerated use of thislife-saving technology.
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"Highmark's HIT Grant Program, which provides funding for the purchase ofe-prescribing technology that meets the functionality as set forth by MIPPA,recognizes ZixCorp as an e-prescribing leader. We are now moving into theexecution phase of this project and will begin to improve quality, save moneyand save lives in Pennsylvania," said Augusta Kairys, vice-president ofprovider relations for Highmark.
"This Highmark initiative shows a powerful understanding of the need forhealth plan leadership as a key to unlocking the value of e-prescribing," saidRick Spurr, chief executive officer for ZixCorp. "Physicians want better toolsto provide better care but do not generally have the time or technicalexpertise necessary to research, select and implement new technology,particularly in smaller practices. Highmark sees the need to step in andfacilitate the transition and adoption by providing the necessary upfrontfunding. ZixCorp's high-touch, turnkey approach tailored specifically tosmaller practices is ideal for this type of comprehensive program. We installthe necessary wireless infrastructure in the physician's office, securelyextract and load the necessary patient data into the system and provide both ahandheld PDA for ease of use as the doctor visits patients throughout theoffice and a desktop solution typically used by the physician's staff forrenewal processing. All of this is included in our approach and is packagedwith onsite training and ongoing live support."
ZixCorp's PocketScript(R) e-prescribing service enables physicians toorder prescriptions through a secure wireless mobile PDA or secure Web siteand deliver them electronically to the patient's preferred pharmacy. Mobilityenables PocketScript to provide clinical decision support at the point-of-carewith real-time access to a drug reference guide as well as patient-leveleligibility, formulary, and co-pay information to aid the prescriber inselecting the most cost-effective prescription based on the patient'sbenefits. The application also provides comprehensive drug-to-drug anddrug-to-allergy interaction alerts based on patient-specific dispensed drughistory. Through our partnership with SureScripts/RxHub, PocketScriptdelivers end-to-end connectivity within the healthcare system to reduceunnecessary costs, improve patient safety and convenience, and enhancepractice ef
