METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALIGNING A PLURALITY OF REFILL DATES FOR PRESCRIPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OF CUSTOMERS

• US 20090030720A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pankow, Greg, Liccardo, Peter, Palazzolo, Christina M., Oh, Hee Kyu, Khullar, Rishi, Webb, Guirong Zhou, Tebbe, Laura J., Dorfman, Steve S., Nadas, Gyula J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The method, system and user-interface allows alignment of refill dates associated with a plurality of prescriptions, such that the plurality of prescriptions all require refills on the same date, thus limiting the number of occasions on which a customer must visit the pharmacy to retrieve refills of the aligned prescriptions, and increasing the likelihood that the customer will comply with the recommended medication regimen. The plurality of prescriptions are associated with a plurality of customers, for example, living in the same household, being members of the same family, or being patients in the care of a single entity or person.

Claims

1. A method for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions associated with a plurality of customers, the method comprising:

storing, for each of a plurality of customers, a customer record comprising a customer identifier indicative of a customer, and one or more prescriptions;

retrieving from a database a plurality of customer records;

receiving a selection of a plurality of prescriptions to align, the plurality of prescriptions being associated with the one or more customer records retrieved;

determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, a next fill date, wherein the next fill date is the date the prescription was last filled, incremented by a pre-alignment day supply for the prescription;

computing, using a computing device, at least one alignment date corresponding to at least one of a quickest alignment option, a lowest cost alignment option, or a medication status alignment option, wherein the medication status alignment option is based on the status of at least one medication as a generic medication or a brand name medication;

computing, using a computing device, an alignment cost for at least one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or a custom alignment option;

receiving, via a computing device, an alignment date selection corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or the custom alignment option;

determining for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, using a computing device, any intervening fill dates for the prescription between the current date and the selected alignment date;

determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, using a computing device;

(a) whether the selected alignment date requires a reduced fill;

(b) a reduced-fill date, the required reduced fill, if any, occurring on the reduced-fill date;

(c) a reduced-fill day supply for the required reduced fill, if any; and

(d) a reduced-fill cost for the required reduced fill, if any;

(e) wherein the reduced-fill date for each prescription requiring a reduced fill is the intervening fill date for the prescription that is closest to the selected alignment date; and

(f) wherein the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription is the number of days from the reduced-fill date for the prescription to the selected alignment date;

filling the prescription, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, on each of any intervening fill dates for the prescription, wherein filling the prescription comprises filling the pre-alignment day supply for the prescription on any intervening fill dates for the prescription that are not the reduced-fill date for the prescription and filling the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription on the reduced-fill date for the prescription; and

filling each of the plurality of selected prescriptions on the selected alignment date, supplying for each selected prescription a post-alignment day supply the same as the post-alignment day supply for at least one other selected prescription.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, using a computing device, whether each of the retrieved plurality of prescriptions is eligible for prescription alignment;

determining for each of the plurality of customers indicated by the retrieved records, using a computing device, whether prescription alignment would violate rules of a third-party payor associated the customer; and

determining, for each of the plurality of customers indicated by the retrieved records, whether prescription alignment would violate applicable regulations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein an eligible prescription comprises one of:

a unit-dose medication;

a unit-of-use medication;

an over-the-counter medication;

a non-daily medication;

a medication not in pill, tablet, or capsule form;

a pre-packaged medication;

a vitamin;

or a supplement.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein aligning a plurality of prescriptions including a prescription dispensed in a unit-of-use package comprises selecting as the alignment date a refill date of the prescription dispensed in a unit-of-use package.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein computing an alignment date comprises:

determining a benchmark date for the plurality of selected prescriptions, the benchmark date associated with a benchmark prescription; and

repeating the following steps until an alignment date is selected;

(a) comparing the benchmark date to the latest of the plurality of determined next fill dates;

(b) selecting the benchmark date as the selected alignment date if the benchmark date is later than or the same as the latest of the determined next fill dates; and

(c) selecting as the benchmark date, if the benchmark date is earlier than the latest of the plurality of determined next fill dates, a subsequent next fill date for the benchmark prescription.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining a benchmark date corresponding to the quickest alignment option comprises selecting the latest of the plurality of determined next fill dates as the benchmark date.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein determining a benchmark date corresponding to the lowest cost alignment option comprises:

grouping the plurality of selected prescriptions by next fill date, wherein a prescription group may comprise a single prescription or a plurality of prescriptions;

determining a pre-alignment cost to an associated customer for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions;

calculating the total of the pre-alignment costs for each of the prescription groups;

finding the one or more prescription groups having the highest total pre-alignment cost;

selecting where only one prescription group has the highest total pre-alignment cost, the next fill date for that prescription group, as the benchmark date; and

selecting, where more than one prescription group has the highest total pre-alignment cost, the latest of the next fill dates corresponding to the prescription groups having the highest total pre-alignment cost.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each prescription of a group of prescriptions constitutes a benchmark prescription and further wherein selecting a subsequent next fill date for the benchmark prescription as the benchmark date for the benchmark prescription further comprises:

repeating, for each prescription of the one or more groups of prescriptions having the highest total pre-alignment cost, each of the following steps until each prescription of the one or more groups of prescriptions having the highest total pre-alignment cost has a benchmark date later than or the same as the latest next fill date;

(i) determining a subsequent next fill date for the prescription, wherein the subsequent next fill date for the prescription is determined according to the pre-alignment day supply for the prescription;

(ii) comparing the determined subsequent next fill date to the latest next fill date; and

(iii) setting the benchmark date for the prescription to the determined subsequent next fill date if the determined subsequent next fill date is later than or the same as the latest next fill date.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting as the alignment date, where each of the benchmark prescriptions has a different cost than each other benchmark prescription, the benchmark date of the benchmark prescription having the highest cost.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting as the alignment date, where each of the benchmark prescriptions has the same cost as each other benchmark prescription, the benchmark date of the benchmark prescription having the earliest benchmark date after the latest next fill date.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers residing in a single residence.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers under the care of a single facility.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers under the care of a single home-care professional.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers of the same family.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising locking the aligned prescriptions to prevent manual scheduling of at least one of an intervening fill, a reduced fill, an alignment-date fill, or a subsequent refill.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying, for each of the plurality of selected customers, that at least one of a third-party payor associated with the customer or applicable regulations allows an adjusted day supply.

17. A system for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions associated with a plurality of customers, the system comprising:

one or more computing devices;

storage means, associated with at least one of the one or more computing devices, for maintaining a plurality of customer records, the plurality of customer records each comprising at least a customer identification indicative of a customer, and one or more prescriptions;

means for retrieving a plurality of the plurality of customer records;

means for determining, for each of the one or more prescriptions associated with each of the plurality of retrieved customer records, whether the prescription is eligible for prescription alignment;

means for determining, for each of the plurality of customer records retrieved, whether prescription alignment would violate rules of a third-party payor associated with the indicated customer;

means for determining, for each of the plurality of customer records retrieved, whether prescription alignment would violate applicable regulations;

interface means for selecting a plurality of eligible prescriptions to align, the plurality of eligible prescriptions being associated with at least two of the plurality of customer records;

means for determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, a next fill date, wherein the next fill date is the date the prescription was last filled, incremented by a pre-alignment day supply for the prescription;

means for computing at least one alignment date corresponding to at least one of a quickest alignment option, a lowest cost alignment option, or both;

means for computing an alignment cost to the plurality of customers associated with the plurality of selected prescriptions for at least one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, or a custom alignment option;

means for receiving an alignment date selection corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, or the custom alignment option;

means for determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, any intervening fill dates for the prescription between the current date and the selected alignment date;

means for determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions;

(a) whether the selected alignment date requires a reduced fill;

(b) a reduced-fill date, the reduced fill, if any, occurring on the reduced-fill date;

(c) a reduced-fill day supply for the required reduced fill, if any; and

(d) a reduced-fill cost for the required reduced fill, if any;

(e) wherein the reduced-fill date for each prescription requiring a reduced fill is the intervening fill date for the prescription that is closest to the selected alignment date; and

(f) wherein the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription is the number of days from the reduced-fill date for the prescription to the selected alignment date;

means for filling the prescription, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, on each of any intervening fill dates for the prescription, wherein filling the prescription comprises filling the pre-alignment day supply for the prescription on any intervening fill dates for the prescription that are not the reduced-fill date for the prescription and filling the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription on the reduced-fill date for the prescription; and

means for filling each of the plurality of selected prescriptions on the selected alignment date, supplying for each selected prescription a post-alignment day supply the same as the post-alignment day supply for at least one other selected prescription.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers residing in a single residence.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers under the care of a single facility.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein all of the plurality of selected prescriptions are associated with customers under the care of a single home-care professional.

21. A user-interface employed in a system for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions associated with a plurality of customers, the user-interface comprising:

one or more user-interface screens,

an indication of a plurality of prescriptions selected for alignment;

an indication, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, of each of a last fill date, a quantity supplied, a pre-alignment day supply, and a pre-alignment cost;

an indication of a prescription alignment date;

an indication of which of the plurality of selected prescriptions, if any, will require a reduced fill, a reduced-fill date for each required reduced fill, a reduced-fill day supply to be provided on each required reduced-fill date, and a reduced-fill cost of each required reduced fill;

an indication of a post-alignment day supply for each prescription;

an indication of a post-alignment cost;

wherein the prescription alignment date may be edited;

wherein the post-alignment day supply may be edited;

wherein a printable version of the displayed information may be generated;

wherein the plurality of prescriptions selected for alignment may be edited;

wherein a plurality of customer records may be selected, from which records a plurality of prescriptions may be selected for alignment; and

wherein the prescription alignment may be confirmed.

22. The user-interface of claim 21 wherein the indication of the prescription alignment date initially reflects either an alignment date associated with a lowest cost option or an alignment date associated with a fastest alignment option, and wherein the indication of the alignment date may be toggled between the lowest cost option and the fastest alignment option, or manually edited.

23. The user-interface of claim 21 further comprising an indication of a store at which the aligned prescriptions are to be filled, and wherein the store at which the aligned prescriptions to be filled may be edited.

24. The user-interface of claim 21 further comprising an indication of which of the aligned prescriptions to include in a multi-dose package, and wherein the aligned prescriptions included in the multi-dose package may be edited.

25. A method for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions associated with a plurality of customers, the method comprising:

storing, for each of a plurality of customers, a customer record comprising a customer identifier indicative of a customer, and one or more prescriptions;

retrieving from a database a plurality of customer records;

receiving a selection of a plurality of prescriptions to align, the plurality of prescriptions being associated with the one or more customer records retrieved;

determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, a next fill date, wherein the next fill date is the date the prescription was last filled, incremented by a pre-alignment day supply for the prescription;

computing, using a computing device, at least one alignment date corresponding to at least one of a quickest alignment option, a lowest cost alignment option, or a medication status alignment option, wherein the medication status alignment option is based on the status of at least one medication as a generic medication or a brand name medication;

computing, using a computing device, an alignment cost for at least one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or a custom alignment option; and

receiving, via a computing device, an alignment date selection corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or the custom alignment option.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

determining for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, using a computing device, any intervening fill dates for the prescription between the current date and the selected alignment date; and

determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, using a computing device;

(a) whether the selected alignment date requires a reduced fill;

(b) a reduced-fill date, the required reduced fill, if any, occurring on the reduced-fill date;

(c) a reduced-fill day supply for the required reduced fill, if any; and

(d) a reduced-fill cost for the required reduced fill, if any;

(e) wherein the reduced-fill date for each prescription requiring a reduced fill is the intervening fill date for the prescription that is closest to the selected alignment date; and

(f) wherein the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription is the number of days from the reduced-fill date for the prescription to the selected alignment date.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

filling the prescription, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, on each of any intervening fill dates for the prescription, wherein filling the prescription comprises filling the pre-alignment day supply for the prescription on any intervening fill dates for the prescription that are not the reduced-fill date for the prescription and filling the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription on the reduced-fill date for the prescription; and

filling each of the plurality of selected prescription on the selected alignment date, supplying for each selected prescription a post-alignment day supply the same as the post-alignment day supply for at least one other selected prescription.

28. A method for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions associated with a plurality of customers, the method comprising:

storing, for each of a plurality of customers, a customer record comprising a customer identifier indicative of a customer, and one or more prescriptions;

retrieving from a database a plurality of customer records;

determining, using a computing device, whether each of the retrieved plurality of prescriptions is eligible for prescription alignment;

determining for each of the plurality of customers indicated by the retrieved records, using a computing device, whether prescription alignment would violate rules of a third-party payor associated the customer;

determining, for each of the plurality of customers indicated by the retrieved records, whether prescription alignment would violate applicable regulations;

receiving a selection of a plurality of prescriptions to align, the plurality of prescriptions being associated with the one or more customer records retrieved;

determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, a next fill date, wherein the next fill date is the date the prescription was last filled, incremented by a pre-alignment day supply for the prescription;

computing, using a computing device, at least one alignment date corresponding to at least one of a quickest alignment option, a lowest cost alignment option, or a medication status alignment option, wherein the medication status alignment option is based on the status of at least one medication as a generic medication or a brand name medication;

computing, using a computing device, an alignment cost for at least one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or a custom alignment option;

receiving, via a computing device, an alignment date selection corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or the custom alignment option;

determining for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, using a computing device, any intervening fill dates for the prescription between the current date and the selected alignment date;

determining, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, using a computing device;

(a) whether the selected alignment date requires a reduced fill;

(b) a reduced-fill date, the required reduced fill, if any, occurring on the reduced-fill date;

(c) a reduced-fill day supply for the required reduced fill, if any; and

(d) a reduced-fill cost for the required reduced fill, if any;

(e) wherein the reduced-fill date for each prescription requiring a reduced fill is the intervening fill date for the prescription that is closest to the selected alignment date; and

(f) wherein the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription is the number of days from the reduced-fill date for the prescription to the selected alignment date;

filling the prescription, for each of the plurality of selected prescriptions, on each of any intervening fill dates for the prescription, wherein filling the prescription comprises filling the pre-alignment day supply for the prescription on any intervening fill dates for the prescription that are not the reduced-fill date for the prescription and filling the reduced-fill day supply for the prescription on the reduced-fill date for the prescription;

filling each of the plurality of selected prescription on the selected alignment date, supplying for each selected prescription a post-alignment day supply the same as the post-alignment day supply for at least one other selected prescription;

wherein computing an alignment date comprises;

determining a benchmark date for the plurality of selected prescriptions, the benchmark date associated with a benchmark prescription; and

repeating the following steps until an alignment date is selected;

(a) comparing the benchmark date to the latest of the plurality of determined next fill dates;

(b) selecting the benchmark date as the selected alignment date if the latest of the determined next fill dates is earlier or the same as the benchmark date; and

(c) selecting, if the latest of the plurality of determined next fill dates is later than the benchmark date, a subsequent next fill date for the benchmark prescription as the benchmark date;

wherein determining a benchmark date corresponding to a quickest alignment option comprises selecting the latest of the plurality of determined next fill dates as the benchmark date; and

wherein determining a benchmark date corresponding to a lowest cost alignment option comprises;

grouping the plurality of selected prescriptions by next fill date, wherein a prescription group may comprise a single prescription or a plurality of prescriptions;

determining a pre-alignment cost to an associated customer for each of the selected prescriptions;

calculating the total of the pre-alignment costs for each of the prescription groups;

finding the one or more prescription groups having the highest total pre-alignment cost;

selecting, where only one prescription group has the highest total pre-alignment cost, the next fill date for that prescription group, as the benchmark date; and

selecting, where more than one prescription group has the highest total pre-alignment cost, the latest of the next fill dates corresponding to the prescription groups having the highest total pre-alignment cost.