Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Masschusetts -- the state's largest health insurer -- has established a bonus incentive program for physicians to use e-prescribing. Health insurers say that electronic prescribing "can reduce medication errors, complications from drug interactions and drug allergies and overall pharmacy costs," according to the Boston Globe. John Fallon, chief physician executive of BCBS, in a statement said, "Our incentive programs are designed to reward doctors for taking steps to improve the quality of outcomes for patients, and e-prescribing has certainly proven to increase the quality of care."
The swift adoption of e-prescribing technology faces several barriers, including the costs of implementing such systems. BCBS said it will pay an undisclosed amount to help some physicians cover software licensing fees for the technology. Medicare is scheduled to being its physician bonus program on January 1, 2009.
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