Method and system for providing prescription drug coverage

• US 20020128863A1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory Richmond
• Original Assignee: Gregory Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for enabling an employer or other entity the ability to provide prescription drug coverage efficiently and cost effectively. A card (or other object) may enable access to a general account established by a plan sponsor (e.g., an employer) where the plan sponsor may pay for the pharmacy benefits. As the card is used for the purchase of prescription drugs (or other authorized use), the plan sponsor'"'"'s general account balance may be reduced. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the card may be restricted for use at selected merchants and may be coded for one or more specific uses, such as obtaining prescription drugs. Other restrictions may be specified for other venues and/or other uses.

Claims

1. A method for providing payment of services, comprising the steps of:

enabling an entity to establish a general account for payment of services for a user associated with the entity;

identifying a merchant channel for retrieval of services;

identifying one or more services that are retrievable at the identified merchant channel;

enabling the user associated with the entity to engage in a purchase transaction through the merchant channel for an identified service where a payment request is submitted; and

fulfilling the payment request from the general account wherein the general account is reduced by a purchase amount.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the merchant channel is one or more retail entities comprising a pharmacy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more services comprises prescription drug services.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the entity is an employer offering prescription drug coverage to one or more employees.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the merchant channel comprises a pharmacy benefit manager for providing relevant medical information associated with the one or more services, wherein the pharmacy benefit manager detects adverse drug interactions for the user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an associated object for enabling the user to request one or more services at the merchant channel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the associated object is a card that retrieves user information when the card is accessed by the merchant.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the associated object is a card that identifies the merchant channel wherein the merchant channel comprises an exclusive merchant.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the purchase transaction occurs through one or more of mail order, Internet, and telephone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the purchase amount is an amount reduced by a portion of the purchase amount paid by the user.

11. A system for providing payment of services, comprising:

registration means for enabling an entity to establish a general account for payment of services for a user associated with the entity;

merchant identification means for identifying a merchant channel for retrieval of services;

service identification means for identifying one or more services that are retrievable at the identified merchant channel;

enabling means for enabling the user associated with the entity to engage in a purchase transaction through the merchant channel for an identified service where a payment request is submitted; and

fulfillment means for fulfilling the payment request from the general account wherein the general account is reduced by a purchase amount.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the merchant channel is one or more retail entities comprising a pharmacy.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more services comprises prescription drug services.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the entity is an employer offering prescription drug coverage to one or more employees.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the merchant channel comprises a pharmacy benefit manager for providing relevant medical information associated with the one or more services, wherein the pharmacy benefit manager detects adverse drug interactions for the user.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising an associated object for enabling the user to request one or more services at the merchant channel.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the associated object is a card that retrieves user information when the card is accessed by the merchant.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the associated object is a card that identifies the merchant channel.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the purchase transaction occurs through one or more of mail order, Internet, and telephone.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the purchase amount is an amount reduced by a portion of the purchase amount paid by the user.