Method for competitive prescription drug and/or bidding service provider selection

• US 20050065821A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Tag Company US LLC
• Original Assignee: The Tag Company US LLC
• Inventors: Kalies, Ralph F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance

Abstract

Unfilled prescriptions are submitted to a registry comprising pre-qualified pharmacies for a “reverse auction” in which the pharmacies bid for the opportunity to fill the prescription. The pharmacies are allowed to bid based on price and/or offering ancillary services. The auction may also be used to bid on supplying specified pharmaceutical cognitive services. The method may also include obtaining cost comparisons with generic substitutes or similar alternative pharmaceutical products. The system may further comprise automatically requesting a review by the prescriber for a list of similar substitutes or prior-authorization for third-party payers. The winner of the reverse auction is selected by the customer.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the delivery of prescription products or services, the method comprising the steps of:

providing unfilled prescription information and patient information from a customer to a participating bidding service provider, wherein the prescription was provided by a prescriber;

transferring the unfilled prescription information from the bidding service provider to a registry of pre-qualified prescription fulfillment providers;

conducting a reverse auction in which the pre-qualified prescription fulfillment providers respond with interactive and iterative bids to fill the unfilled prescription;

providing the customer with the details of the lowest bid of each responding prescription fulfillment provider that made at least one bid to fill the prescription; and

, allowing the customer to select the winning bid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription is for at least one of:

drugs;

physical therapy;

laboratory or diagnostic services;

optical lenses;

surgery;

dental services;

dental devices;

orthodontic devices;

orthodontic services;

.or, psychiatric services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescriber acts as a proxy for the customer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription fulfillment provider is at least one of:

a pharmacist;

a physical therapist;

a laboratory technician;

a medical diagnostic device technician;

a surgeon;

a lens maker;

a dentist;

an orthodontist;

a physician;

a psychiatrist;

a psychologist;

or, a social worker.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescriber is any person authorized to order medical or health related products, tests and/or services.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescriber is at least one of a physician, surgeon, optometrist, optician, dentist, orthodontist, physical therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or veterinarian.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit to conclude the reverse auction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the customer has the option of selecting the winning bid prior to the conclusion of the predetermined time limit at any time during the reverse auction or selecting the winning bid following conclusion of the predetermined time limit.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the customer has the option of selecting the winning bid at any time during the reverse auction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying all responding prescription fulfillment providers of the customer'"'"'s selection via the bidding service provider.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a reservation number and code key to the customer and the same reservation number to the responding prescription fulfillment provider with the winning bid.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescription is in physical form and the physical prescription remains with the customer until filled at the prescription fulfillment provider with the winning bid.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescription is transferred from the prescriber to the prescription fulfillment provider via facsimile, telephone, or electronic communication means.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein only prescription fulfillment providers within a specified service area and/or serving via mail order are allowed to bid.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription information is provided electronically.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic transfer is via an intranet, the Internet, or a combination of both.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription fulfillment providers bid against each other by offering a lower price and/or ancillary services.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescription information comprises prescription name, drug strength, prescription quantity and bidding time limit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the prescription information further comprises at least one of form of drug or ancillary prescription fulfillment provider services desired.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription fulfillment providers bid through an automatically based on pre-set parameters chosen by the prescription fulfillment provider.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the pre-set parameters comprise indexing to an industry standard price index.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the bidding service provider providing electronic prior authorization means to a third party payer if prior authorization is required for the prescription or for ancillary services included in a bid.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the unfilled prescription information is transferred via electronic means.

24. A system for facilitating the fulfillment of prescribed products and/or services;

the system comprising;

at least one first input/output means for a customer to submit patient information and information for at least one unfilled prescription and to receive information on any bids made to fill the unfilled prescription;

at least one second input/output means for communicating information for the unfilled prescription to a registry comprising pre-qualified prescription fulfillment providers and for the pre-qualified prescription fulfillment providers to interactively submit bids to fill the unfilled prescription; and

,

a data storage and processing unit in electronic communication with the first input/output means and the second input/output means.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first input/output device is an interface to an intranet, the Internet or both.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the second input/output device is an interface to an intranet, the Internet or both.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the electronic communication is via an intranet, Internet or both.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the prescription is for a drug and the method further comprises means for performing a similar product price comparison to identify a list of products potentially similar to the prescribed drug along with relative costs for such identified similar products.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for automatic bidding.

30. The system of claim 24 further comprising means for manufactures and/or suppliers of prescribed products to provide direct-to-customer advertising and/or cost incentives.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the cost incentives are electronic coupons.

32. A method for facilitating-the delivery of prescription products or services, the method comprising the steps of:

providing unfilled prescription information and patient information from a customer to a participating bidding service provider, wherein the prescription is provided by a prescriber;

transferring, via electronic means, the unfilled prescription information from the bidding service provider to a registry of pre-qualified pharmacies;

conducting a reverse auction in which the pre-qualified pharmacies respond with interactive and iterative bids to fill the unfilled prescription;

providing the customer with the details of the lowest bid of each responding pharmacy that made at least one bid to fill the prescription; and

, allowing the customer to select the winning bid.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the prescriber acts as a proxy for the customer.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the prescriber is any person authorized to prescribe drugs.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the customer may select the winning bid at any time during the reverse auction.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit to conclude the reverse auction.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the customer has the option of selecting the winning bid prior to the conclusion of the predetermined time limit at any time during the reverse auction or selecting the winning bid following the conclusion of the predetermined time limit.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of notifying all responding pharmacies of the customer'"'"'s selection via the bidding service provider.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of providing a reservation number and key code to the customer and the same reservation number to the responding pharmacy with the winning bid.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein the prescription is in physical form and the physical prescription remains with the customer until filled at the pharmacy with the winning bid.

41. The method of claim 32 wherein the prescription is transferred from the prescriber to the pharmacy with the winning bid via facsimile, telephone, or electronic communication.

42. The method of claim 32 wherein only pharmacies within a specified service area and/or serving via mail order are allowed to bid.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein the prescription information is provided electronically.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the electronic transfer is via an intranet, the Internet, or a combination of both.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein the pharmacies bid against each other by offering a lower price and/or ancillary services.

46. The method of claim 32 wherein the prescription information comprises prescription name, drug strength, prescription quantity and bidding time limit.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the prescription information further comprises at least one of form of drug or ancillary pharmacy services desired.

48. The method of claim 32, wherein the pharmacies bid through an automatically based on pre-set parameters chosen by the pharmacy.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the pre-set parameters comprise indexing to an industry standard price index.

50. The method of claim 32, further comprising the bidding service provider contacting a third party payer if prior authorization is required for the prescription or for ancillary services included in a bid.

51. A method for facilitating the delivery of prescription products, the method comprising the steps of:

providing unfilled drug prescription information and patient information from a customer to a participating bidding service provider/administrator;

performing a similar product price comparison to identify a list of products potentially similar to the prescribed drug along with relative costs for such identified similar products;

obtaining authorization from the prescriber to replace the prescribed drug with an identified substitute;

transferring information for the unfilled prescription, modified to include an authorized generic substitute or pharmaceutical equivalent, from the bidding service provider to a registry of pre-qualified pharmacies;

conducting a reverse auction in which the pre-qualified pharmacies respond with interactive and iterative bids to fill the unfilled prescription;

providing the customer with the details of the lowest bid of each responding pharmacy that made at least one bid to fill the prescription; and

;

allowing the customer to select the winning bid.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the prescriber acts as a proxy for the customer.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the prescriber is any person authorized to prescribe drugs.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein the customer may select the winning bid at any time during the reverse auction.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit to conclude the reverse auction.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the customer has the option of selecting the winning bid prior to the conclusion of the predetermined time limit at any time during the reverse auction or selecting the winning bid following the conclusion of the predetermined time limit.

57. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of notifying all responding Pharmacies of the customer'"'"'s selection via the bidding service provider.

58. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of providing a reservation number and key code to the customer and the same reservation number to the responding Pharmacy with the winning bid.

59. The method of claim 51 wherein the prescription is in physical form and the physical prescription remains with the customer until filled at the pharmacy with the winning bid.

60. The method of claim 51 wherein the prescription is transferred from the prescriber to the pharmacy with the winning bid via facsimile, telephone, or electronic communication.

61. The method of claim 51 wherein only pharmacies within a specified service area and/or serving via mail order are allowed to bid.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein the prescription information is provided electronically.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the electronic transfer is via an intranet, the Internet, or a combination of both.

64. The method of claim 51, wherein the pharmacies bid against each other by offering a lower price and/or ancillary services.

65. The method of claim 51 wherein the prescription information comprises prescription name, drug strength, prescription quantity and bidding time limit.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the prescription information further comprises at least one of form of drug or ancillary pharmacy services desired.

67. The method of claim 51, wherein the pharmacies bid through an automatically based on pre-set parameters chosen by the pharmacy.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the pre-set parameters comprise indexing to an industry standard cost index.

69. The method of claim 51, further comprising the bidding service provider contacting a third party payer if prior authorization is required for the prescription or for ancillary services included in a bid.

70. The method of claim 51 wherein the unfilled prescription information is transferred via electronic means.

71. A method for contracting for pharmaceutical cognitive services, the method comprising:

Submitting a request for specified pharmaceutical cognitive services from a customer to a participating bidding service provider;

transferring the request for specified pharmaceutical cognitive services from the bidding service provider to a registry of pre-qualified pharmaceutical service providers;

conducting a reverse auction in which the pre-qualified pharmaceutical service providers respond with interactive and iterative bids to provide the specified pharmaceutical cognitive services;

providing the customer with the details of the lowest bid of each responding pharmaceutical service provider that made at least one bid; and

,

allowing the customer to select the winning bid.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the prescriber acts as a proxy for the customer.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein the prescriber is any person authorized to prescribe drugs.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein the customer may select the winning bid at any time during the reverse auction.

75. The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined time limit to conclude the reverse auction.

76. The method of claim 71 wherein the customer has the option of selecting the winning bid prior to the conclusion of the predetermined time limit at any time during the reverse auction or selecting the winning bid following the conclusion of the predetermined time limit.

77. The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of notifying all responding Pharmaceutical service providers of the customer'"'"'s selection via the bidding service provider.

78. The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of providing a reservation number and key code to the customer and the same reservation number to responding pharmaceutical service provider with the winning bid.

79. The method of claim 71 wherein only pharmaceutical service providers within a specified service area and/or serving via mail order are allowed to bid.

80. The method of claim 71, wherein the request is provided electronically.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the electronic transfer is via an intranet, the Internet, or a combination of both.

82. The method of claim 71, wherein the pharmaceutical service providers bid against each other by offering a lower price and/or ancillary services.

83. The method of claim 71, wherein the pharmaceutical service providers bid through an automatically based on pre-set parameters chosen by the pharmaceutical service provider.

84. The method of claim 71, further comprising the bidding service provider contacting a third party payer if prior authorization is required for the requested pharmaceutical cognitive services.

85. The method of claim 71 wherein the unfilled prescription information is transferred via electronic means.

86. A system for processing prescriptions;

the system comprising;

at least one first input/output means for a customer to submit patient information and information for at least one unfilled prescription and to receive information on any bids made to fill the unfilled prescription;

at least one second input/output means for communicating information for the unfilled prescription to a registry comprising pre-qualified pharmacies and for the pre-qualified pharmacies to interactively submit bids to fill the unfilled prescription in a reverse auction; and

,

a data storage and processing unit in electronic communication with the first input/output means and the second input/output means.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the first input/output device is an interface to an intranet, the Internet or both.

88. The system of claim 86, wherein the second input/output device is an interface to an intranet, the Internet or both.

89. The system of claim 86, wherein the electronic communication is via an intranet, Internet or both.

90. The system of claim 86, further comprising means for performing a similar product price comparison to identify generic substitutes or pharmaceutical equivalents to the prescribed drug and to determine costs for such identified substitutes or similar alternative products.

91. The system of claim 86, further comprising means for automatic bidding.