Trend: Number of doctors using e-prescribing grows

Getting doctors to use e-prescribing technology isn't happening quickly, even with government offering incentives and vendors offering free equipment and software. Still, it looks like something is beginning to happen, with the number doctors prescribing electronically doubling last year to 70,000, or about 12 percent of office-based practitioners.

Significant barriers to widespread adoption still persist. In particular, federal laws that ban e-prescribing of controlled substances have held many physicians back, as the rules require inconvenient switches back and forth from paper to computer. However, the DEA has issued a proposed rule that would remove these restrictions, and when it goes into effect there may be a significant uptick in such usage.

Meanwhile, government is continuing to push physicians to get on the bandwagon, eager to take advantage of the cost savings and safety improvements e-prescribing can offer. Medicare began paying doctors a bonus for using e-prescribing technology this month, and some private health plans are following its lead.

To learn more about e-prescribing trends:
- read this Wall Street Journal article (sub. req.)

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Groups challenge DEA rule on e-prescribing controlled substances
MN lawmakers approve e-prescribing measure

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