Universal Prescription Card Standards
The Rhode Island Pharmacists Association is now proceeding in efforts
to encourage legislation mandating a uniform prescription benefit
card format consistent with national standards. Twenty-two states
have previously enacted legislation with this intent. The appeal
of this move can not be dismissed as the increasing prescription
volume in pharmacies pushes workflow issues to the forefront.
To avoid each state mandating competing standards, model legislation
is available to ensure a consistent standard. This model legislation
is moderately sophisticated as it attempts to be perpetually up
to date, useful for all parties, and compatible between states.
The model legislation accomplishes this balance by using the latest
standards produced by the National Council for Prescription Drug
Programs (NCPDP). NCPDP is a non-profit organization with representatives
from pharmacies, government, insurers, and other relevant stakeholders.
The organization is accredited by the nationally recognized American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) to establish voluntary national
standards, and as such must adhere to guidelines that are focused
on achieving consensus.
Since 2000, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National
Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and the National Community
Pharmacists Association (NCPA) have collaborated to distribute model
legislation to state associations, boards of pharmacy, and pharmacists
legislators. It appears that their efforts have been rewarded since
more than half of the states approving the measure have done so
since the collaborative effort.
Now that the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association is moving forward
on advocating this legislative initiative, it is important that
we contact our state representatives and senators. We should explain
the barrier that varying card formats have been to prompt prescription
service. Informing them about the impact that this legislation could
have on pharmacy wait times is valuable, and as this initiative
requires no funds it is particularly appealing now.
In other states that have pursued this legislation, the level of
concern from other stakeholders has varied highly. This concern
has often had a profound influence on the speed with which this
legislation could proceed.
Bill Beaulieu, RIPA's Legislative Chairperson, is working closely
with this legislation. He feels that not all stakeholders have weighed
in, but initial feedback has been neutral. The timeline for passage
of this legislation is not yet clear, but appears to be one or two
years.
Please join us in encouraging this valuable legislation. Please
feel free to contact me more for information at GLOW@PharmacyInformatics.com.
by Greg Low, MS RPh
![[RI General Assembly Site]](images/Rhode_Island.gif)