epocrates Adds ScriptSave’s Real-Time Drug Price Info Into Point-of-Care Platform
The team-up aims create more transparency for HCPs around their patients’ access to specific medications.
A new partnership between epocrates and ScriptSave is designed to embed up-to-date prescription drug prices directly into clinical workflows, with an aim of improving prescription uptake and adherence.
Through the collaboration, announced Wednesday, ScriptSave’s dynamic drug pricing details and cost-saving opportunities will be added into epocrates’ clinical information platform.
The goal, according to the companies, is to create more transparency around patients’ access to specific drugs, potentially increasing the chances that they actually fill and adhere to prescriptions; the release pointed to research showing that affordability concerns can be a major barrier to prescription uptake.
“Preventing surprises and sticker shock at the pharmacy are key to addressing medication adherence,” Marcus Sredzinski, group president, ScriptSave/MedImpact, said in the release. “By combining ScriptSave’s drug pricing intelligence and epocrates’ clinical workflow, we empower clinicians to inform patients about cost and alternatives right at the moment of prescribing.”
This week’s launch is the first piece of a multiyear partnership between the two companies that aims to “expand affordability capabilities and support better prescribing decisions,” according to David Minkin, epocrates’ president and general manager. That will reportedly include even deeper workflow integrations, more information about coupons, discounts and savings resources, and more.
solli’s Final Thoughts
HCP burnout and patient access remain two of the most pressing issues in the U.S. healthcare system. There’s a growing trend in pharma media to ease both in one fell swoop by making drug cost and access information easily surfaceable within the platforms that clinicians are already using, rather than forcing them to spend even more time doing research elsewhere.
In addition to bringing up-to-date pricing details into clinical workflows, other recent updates include adding formulary coverage info into EHR platforms and drug sample requests into physician communication tools.
It’s a potential win-win-win situation: Doctors have important information front and center as they’re making prescription decisions, patients aren’t surprised by unmanageably high costs or access restrictions at the pharmacy counter, and pharma marketers ensure their brands get in front of appropriate HCPs and patients as often as possible.
