Adjudicating pharmaceutical drug sample distribution system and method
First Claim
1. A method for distributing pharmaceutical drug samples, comprising a step of adjudicating a claim by a drug dispenser for the use of a token for a pharmaceutical drug sample at a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims, the token being distributed by a prescriber to permit the patient to obtain the pharmaceutical drug sample from the drug dispenser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved system and method of pharmaceutical drug samples distribution replaces actual samples provided to physicians for re-distribution to patients. A token, preferably in the form of a partially completed script, is provided to physicians for delivery as a completed prescription to patients. The completed token is presented to pharmacists to obtain the drug sample. Before providing the sample, the token is adjudicated by a claim adjudication system. Token usage data may be compiled by the claim adjudication system and forwarded for use by pharmaceutical companies. Value-added services such as drug utilization review (DUR) may be provided by the claim adjudication system. Token usage data may be correlated with token distribution data to provide a measure of sampling program effectiveness, including pharmaceutical company representative performance.
76 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for distributing pharmaceutical drug samples, comprising a step of
adjudicating a claim by a drug dispenser for the use of a token for a pharmaceutical drug sample at a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims, the token being distributed by a prescriber to permit the patient to obtain the pharmaceutical drug sample from the drug dispenser.
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15. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for enabling a computer system to track distribution of pharmaceutical drug samples, comprising:
program instructions executable by a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims to enable adjudication of a claim by a drug dispenser for a use of a token presented in return for a pharmaceutical drug sample, the token having been distributed to a prescriber who provided the token for a patient to permit the patient to obtain the pharmaceutical drug sample from the drug dispenser.
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22. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for enabling a computer system to track a distribution of pharmaceutical drug samples, comprising:
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program instructions for entering adjudication information related to a token for a pharmaceutical drug sample into a pharmacy benefit management system for dispensing pharmaceutical drugs; and
program instructions for enabling a drug dispenser to communicate with a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims to adjudicate a claim for a use of a token presented in return for a pharmaceutical drug sample, the token having been distributed to a prescriber who provided a token for a patient to permit the patient to obtain the pharmaceutical drug sample from the drug dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38)
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25. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for enabling a computer system to track the distribution of pharmaceutical drug samples, comprising:
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program instructions for periodically receiving token usage data from a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims that adjudicates a claim for a use of the token and stores token usage data; and
program instructions for analyzing the token usage data.
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27. A computer system for tracking the distribution of pharmaceutical drug samples, comprising:
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a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims including means for adjudicating a claim by a drug dispenser presented with a token for a pharmaceutical drug sample, the token having been distributed to a prescriber who prescribed the pharmaceutical drug sample to a patient using the token;
whereby the dispensing of the pharmaceutical drug sample is tracked in, response to the adjudication of the claim.
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34. A pharmacy benefit management system to control the distribution of a pharmaceutical drug sample, comprising:
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a pharmacy benefit management database;
means for entering adjudication information related to a token for a pharmaceutical drug sample into the pharmacy benefit management database; and
means for communicating with a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims to adjudicate a claim for use of the token, the token having been distributed to a prescriber who prescribed the pharmaceutical drug sample to a patient using the token which was presented to the drug dispenser to obtain the drug sample;
whereby the dispensing of the pharmaceutical drug sample is tracked in response to the adjudication of the claim.
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37. A computer system for analyzing the distribution of a pharmaceutical drug sample, comprising:
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means for periodically receiving token usage data from a claim adjudication system for pharmacy benefit claims, which adjudicates claims for use of the tokens and stores token usage data, the tokens being distributed to prescribers who prescribe the pharmaceutical drug samples to patients using the tokens for presenting the tokens to the drug dispensers to receive the drug samples; and
means for analyzing the token usage data.
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Specification