CVS Caremark announces e-prescribing agreement with Allscripts

WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS Caremark has inked an e-prescribing deal with Allscripts and, as part of the deal, will retire its proprietary iScribe e-prescribing tool and transition the providers now using iScribe to Allscripts.

"This represents a natural progression of our work in the expanding e-prescribing industry," stated Troyen Brennan, EVP and chief medical officer of CVS Caremark. "We helped define this market through our participation as one of the founders of the Surescripts network, which connects prescribers to critical prescribing information and the pharmacy, and as an early provider of e-prescribing tools. Working directly with Allscripts in this next phase will strengthen our ability to deliver scalable e-prescribing solutions, which include valuable information, to meet our clients’ business and clinical goals."

Under the agreement, iScribe users also will have the opportunity to transition to a full Allscripts EHR, enabling them to qualify under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for between $44,000 and $64,000 in federal incentive payments beginning in 2011. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services already provides financial incentives for e-prescribing under the Medicare improvements for Patients and Providers Act.

According to CVS Caremark, the agreement, along with a broader e-prescribing and e-health strategy involving the two companies, will increase the ability of CVS Caremark to reach prescribers beyond that provided by investment in a single clinical tool. Allscripts offers physicians in independent practice and in larger groups or institutions a variety of solutions to meet their needs, ranging from a standalone mobile smartphone e-prescribing solution to EHR with embedded e-prescribing technology.