TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, soon will provide rural physicians with access to an electronic prescription system that aims to reduce pharmacy costs, increase efficiency and improve patient safety, the Tennessean reports.
The system, funded by a $674,200 HHS grant, will allow physicians to electronically transmit prescriptions to local pharmacies, which could help prevent transcription and handwriting errors (Pinto, Tennessean, 1/30). The e-prescription system also will alert a provider about potentially dangerous medication interactions, the Memphis Business Journal reports.
The grant will be used to provide computers, software and training to about 50 rural physicians who have above-average caseloads. TennCare officials believe the program will save the state money.
The TennCare grant is part of $103 million that is being distributed by HHS to 27 state Medicaid programs as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Memphis Business Journal, 1/30).