System and method for managing a prescription drug savings plan

• US 20060026041A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NPAX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NPAX Incorporated
• Inventors: Ullman, Richard
• Application Number:
  US10/901,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

Patient prescription savings are maintained in an account, with manufacturer rebates applied to the account. When a prescription is processed, benefit carrier contribution is determined. Contra-indications for the prescribed drug are also identified and when so identified an alert is provided to the pharmacy.

Claims

1. A method for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, the method comprising:

receiving information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including a prescribed drug;

identifying a contra-indication for the prescribed drug using information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction;

providing an alert based on the contra-indication; and

adjusting the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from a second pharmacy.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from the first pharmacy.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein identifying a contra-indication includes using patient information that is collected from multiple pharmacy transactions and stored in a database.

5. A system for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, the system comprising:

means for receiving information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including a prescribed drug;

means for identifying a contra-indication for the prescribed drug using information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction;

means for providing an alert based on the contra-indication; and

means for adjusting the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from a second pharmacy.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from the first pharmacy.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein means for identifying a contra-indication includes means for using patient information that is collected from multiple pharmacy transactions and stored in a database.

9. A computer readable medium with software code stored thereon for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, the medium comprising:

code to receive information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including a prescribed drug;

code to identify a contra-indication for the prescribed drug using information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction;

code to provide an alert based on the contra-indication; and

code to adjust the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction.

10. A computer medium according to claim 9, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from a second pharmacy.

11. A computer medium according to claim 9, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from the first pharmacy.

12. A computer medium according to claim 9, wherein code to identify a contra-indication includes code to use patient information that is collected from multiple pharmacy transactions and stored in a database.

13. A programmed computer for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, comprising:

a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

wherein the program code comprises;

code to receive information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including a prescribed drug;

code to identify a contra-indication for the prescribed drug using information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction;

code to provide an alert based on the contra-indication; and

code to adjust the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction.

14. A programmed computer according to claim 13, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from a second pharmacy.

15. A programmed computer according to claim 13, wherein information related to the patient prescription transaction is from a first pharmacy, and the information from at least one previous patient prescription transaction is from the first pharmacy.

16. A programmed computer according to claim 13, wherein code to identify a contra-indication includes code to use patient information that is collected from multiple pharmacy transactions and stored in a database.

17. A method for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, the method comprising:

receiving information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including transaction cost and prescribed drug information;

sending patient identification information and the prescribed drug information to a benefits carrier;

receiving co-payment information from the benefits carrier, the co-payment information including a covered amount;

calculating a remaining amount owed using the transaction cost and the co-payment information;

calculating a savings account adjustment using the remaining amount owed; and

adjusting the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the calculated adjustment.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein adjusting is a contribution to the savings account.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein adjusting is a deduction from the savings account.

20. A system for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, the system comprising:

means for receiving information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including transaction cost and prescribed drug information;

means for sending patient identification information and the prescribed drug information to a benefits carrier;

means for receiving co-payment information from the benefits carrier, the co-payment information including a covered amount;

means for calculating a remaining amount owed using the transaction cost and the co-payment information;

means for calculating a savings account adjustment using the remaining amount owed; and

means for adjusting the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the calculated adjustment.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein adjusting is a contribution to the savings account.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein adjusting is a deduction from the savings account.

23. A computer readable medium with software code stored thereon for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, the medium comprising:

code to receive information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including transaction cost and prescribed drug information;

code to send patient identification information and the prescribed drug information to a benefits carrier;

code to receive co-payment information from the benefits carrier, the co-payment information including a covered amount;

code to calculate a remaining amount owed using the transaction cost and the co-payment information;

code to calculate a savings account adjustment using the remaining amount owed; and

code to adjust the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the calculated adjustment.

24. A computer medium according to claim 23, wherein adjusting is a contribution to the savings account.

25. A computer medium according to claim 23, wherein adjusting is a deduction from the savings account.

26. A programmed computer for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, comprising:

a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

wherein the program code comprises;

code to receive information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including transaction cost and prescribed drug information;

code to send patient identification information and the prescribed drug information to a benefits carrier;

code to receive co-payment information from the benefits carrier, the co-payment information including a covered amount;

code to calculate a remaining amount owed using the transaction cost and the co-payment information;

code to calculate a savings account adjustment using the remaining amount owed; and

code to adjust the patient prescription drug savings account balance using the calculated adjustment.

27. A programmed computer according to claim 26, wherein adjusting is a contribution to the savings account.

28. A programmed computer according to claim 26, wherein adjusting is a deduction from the savings account.

29. A method for managing patient prescription drug savings accounts, the method comprising:

issuing a patient prescription drug product card, the product card having an associated patient prescription drug savings account;

receiving information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including prescribed drug information and product card information;

identifying a first patient prescription drug savings account using the product card information;

adjusting the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction; and

transferring a portion of the first patient prescription drug savings account balance to a second patient prescription drug savings account balance.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:

receiving a manufacturer contribution for the prescribed drug; and

adjusting the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the manufacturer contribution.

31. A system for managing patient prescription drug savings accounts, the system comprising:

means for issuing a patient prescription drug product card, the product card having an associated patient prescription drug savings account;

means for receiving information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including prescribed drug information and product card information;

means for identifying a first patient prescription drug savings account using the product card information;

means for adjusting the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction; and

means for transferring a portion of the first patient prescription drug savings account balance to a second patient prescription drug savings account balance.

32. A system according to claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving a manufacturer contribution for the prescribed drug; and

means for adjusting the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the manufacturer contribution.

33. A computer readable medium with computer software code stored thereon for managing patient prescription drug savings accounts, the medium comprising:

code to issue a patient prescription drug product card, the product card having an associated patient prescription drug savings account;

code to receive information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including prescribed drug information and product card information;

code to identify a first patient prescription drug savings account using the product card information;

code to adjust the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction; and

code to transfer a portion of the first patient prescription drug savings account balance to a second patient prescription drug savings account balance.

34. A computer medium according to claim 33, further comprising:

code to receive a manufacturer contribution for the prescribed drug; and

code to adjust the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the manufacturer contribution.

35. A programmed computer for managing a patient prescription drug savings account, comprising:

a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

wherein the program code comprises;

code to issue a patient prescription drug product card, the product card having an associated patient prescription drug savings account;

code to receive information related to a patient prescription transaction, the information including prescribed drug information and product card information;

code to identify a first patient prescription drug savings account using the product card information;

code to adjust the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the information related to the patient prescription transaction; and

code to transfer a portion of the first patient prescription drug savings account balance to a second patient prescription drug savings account balance.

36. A programmed computer according to claim 35, further comprising:

code to receive a manufacturer contribution for the prescribed drug; and

code to adjust the first patient prescription drug savings account balance using the manufacturer contribution.