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States Look to E-Prescribing for More Efficient Health Care

States are using innovative strategies to address the issue of integrated electronic health records and the electronic exchange of health information, according to a new issue brief from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center).

Accelerating the Adoption of Electronic Prescribing examines computer-based electronic generation and transmission of prescriptions, referred to as e-prescribing. E-prescribing improves patient safety and quality of care, increases prescribing accuracy and efficiency, and reduces healthcare costs by making critical information available to healthcare providers.

The use of e-prescribing will grow as states and others provide support for e-prescribing. In recent years, states annually have doubled the number of prescriptions sent electronically. If states stay the course, this rate of adoption will reach at least 50% by 2012, according to State Alliance for e-Health Call to Action for NGA.

Developing and implementing plans to promote e-prescribing can help governors achieve critical health reform goals: achieving higher quality care and enhancing the delivery of healthcare services. Several strategies are available to states to promote an e-prescribing agenda. These include:

  • Developing e-prescribing policies
  • Incorporating e-prescribing into state publicly funded health programs
  • Implementing financial incentive programs for e-prescribing

To learn more about, visit www.nga.org/center/health.

ARMA International Washington Policy Brief, August

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