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      Streamlining prescription onboarding with Specialty Expedite

      September 25, 2019 | Pharmacy

      As CVS Health looks to transform health care and contribute to a better, more efficient system, we are looking at ways to leverage and improve the use of technology to improve quality of care and patient outcomes.

      This is especially important in specialty pharmacy and why we’ve introduced Specialty Expedite.1 Our connected capability transforms prescription onboarding for our CVS Specialty patients, on average shortening the specialty pharmacy onboarding process to as little as three days and ultimately helping to get patients started on appropriate therapy faster.

      Getting patients the medications they need quickly and efficiently

      For patients with complex medical conditions requiring specialty medications, getting started on their prescriptions quickly and efficiently is crucial to their care. But the process has not always been that simple, with patients sometimes having to wait as long as several weeks to complete the manual onboarding and prior authorization process.

      Specifically, the process to get started on a specialty medication often requires physician’s offices and insurers to fax appropriate patient records and/or required approvals before a prescription can be filled, which can be time consuming but is a critical step to ensure that patients are receiving the most appropriate medication.

      In addition, across the health care system, the Federal government is looking at ways to help enable and improve health information technology (IT) systems and as part of that, officials have even called for health care to be a “fax free zone by 2020.”

      How it works

      Specialty Expedite works by securely gathering appropriate patient information, including insurance, lab work and diagnosis codes via a doctor’s electronic health record (EHR) system instead of sharing through fax. The process also cuts down on paperwork and phone calls, resulting in fewer errors and more efficiencies.

      In addition, patients also now have the option of receiving real-time status updates via email or text, so that they can stay informed on the status of their prescriptions and any prior authorization requirements. Patients are also able to choose how they want to get their specialty medications — at their local CVS Pharmacy or though specialty mail service2 via Specialty Connect. Research shows that when patients have more flexibility and choice, they are able to start their therapies sooner and adherence and satisfaction improves.

      Helping patients with complex medical conditions get the specialty medication they need more quickly and efficiently through technology and solutions such as Specialty Expedite is one more way we are helping people on their path to better health.

      1 Specialty Expedite is available exclusively for providers who use compatible electronic health record (EHR) systems including Epic Systems and others that participate in the Carequality Interoperability Framework. All data sharing and usage complies with applicable privacy laws. Patients receive real-time prescription status updates only after providing consent to CVS Specialty.

      2 Where allowed by law. In-store pick up is currently not available in Oklahoma. Puerto Rico requires first-fill prescriptions to be transmitted directly to the dispensing specialty pharmacy. Products are dispensed by CVS Specialty and certain services are only accessed by calling CVS Specialty directly. Certain specialty medication may not qualify. Services are also available at Long’s Drugs locations.