METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALIGNING A PLURALITY OF PRESCRIPTION REFILLS TO MULTIPLE ALIGNMENT DATES

• US 20090030725A1
• 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: Dorfman, Steve S., Oh, Hee K., Nadas, Gyula J., Webb, Guirong Z., Pankow, Greg, Liccardo, Peter, Palazzolo, Christina M., Khullar, Rishi, Tebbe, Laura J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

The method, system and user-interface allows alignment of refill dates associated with a plurality of prescriptions to a plurality of alignment dates, such that a plurality of selected prescriptions require refills on each of the plurality of alignment dates, 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.

Claims

1. A method for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions to a plurality of alignment dates, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a plurality of prescriptions to align;

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 one or more custom alignment options;

receiving, via a computing device, the plurality of alignment date selections, each corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or a one of the one or more custom alignment options, wherein each selected alignment date is selected for at least two prescriptions;

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 one or more alignment dates associated with the selected prescription;

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

(a) whether each of the one or more alignment dates 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 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 one or more alignment dates for the prescription, supplying for each selected prescription aligned to the same date a post-alignment day supply the same as at least one other selected prescription.

2. The method of claim 1 further 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 one or more customer records;

retrieving the one or more prescriptions associated with each of the one or more retrieved records;

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

determining for each of the at least one customer records, using a computing device, whether prescription alignment would violate rules of a third-party payor associated with the indicated customer; and

determining, for each of the at least one customer records, whether prescription alignment would violate applicable regulations.

3. 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 determined next fill dates, a subsequent next fill date for the benchmark prescription.

4. The method of claim 3 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.

5. The method of claim 3 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 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, a 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.

6. The method of claim 5 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.

7. The method of claim 6 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.

8. The method of claim 6 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.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, for each of the prescriptions associated with each alignment date, both dispensing a reduced-fill day supply and applying a prorated copay.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising filling a sub-set of the plurality of selected prescriptions on each of the plurality of alignment dates.

11. A system for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions to a plurality of alignment dates, 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 records each comprising at least a customer identification indicative of a customer, and one or more prescriptions;

means for retrieving one or more of the customer records;

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

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

means for receiving a selection of a plurality of eligible prescriptions to align;

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 the 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 for at least one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, or one or more custom alignment options;

means for receiving a plurality of alignment date selections, each selection corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, or one of the one or more custom alignment options, wherein each selected alignment date is selected for a plurality of prescriptions;

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

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

(a) whether each of the one or more associated alignment dates requires a reduced fill;

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

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

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

(e) wherein each 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 one or more selected alignment dates for the prescription, supplying for each selected prescription aligned to the same date the same post-alignment day supply as at least one other selected prescription.

12. The system of claim 11 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.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein on each of the plurality of alignment dates a sub-set of the selected prescriptions is filled.

14. A user-interface employed in a system for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions to a plurality of alignment dates, 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 plurality of prescription alignment dates;

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 reduced-fill date, and a reduced-fill cost of each required reduced fill;

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

an indication of a post-alignment cost at each alignment date;

wherein the plurality of alignment dates may be edited;

wherein the post-alignment day supply for each of the aligned prescriptions may be edited;

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

wherein the plurality of prescriptions selected for alignment on each of the plurality of alignment dates may be edited; and

wherein the prescription alignment may be confirmed.

15. The user-interface of claim 14 wherein the indication of each of the prescription alignment dates 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 each of the alignment dates may be toggled between the lowest cost option and the fastest alignment option, or manually edited.

16. A method for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions to a plurality of alignment dates, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a plurality of prescriptions to align;

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 one or more custom alignment options; and

receiving, via a computing device, the plurality of alignment date selections, each corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or a one of the one or more custom alignment options, wherein each selected alignment date is selected for at least two prescriptions.

17. The method of claim 16 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 one or more alignment dates associated with the selected prescription; and

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

(a) whether each of the one or more alignment dates 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 to the selected alignment date.

18. The method of claim 17 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 prescriptions on the one or more alignment dates for the prescription, supplying for each selected prescription aligned to the same date the same post-alignment day supply as at least one other selected prescription.

19. A method for aligning a plurality of pharmaceutical prescriptions to a plurality of alignment dates, 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 one or more customer records from a database;

retrieving from a database the one or more prescriptions associated with each of the one or more retrieved customer records;

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

determining for each of the at least one customer records, using a computing device, whether prescription alignment would violate rules of a third-party payor associated with the indicated customer;

determining, for each of the at least one customer records, whether prescription alignment would violate applicable regulations;

receiving a selection of a plurality of prescriptions to align;

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 one or more custom alignment options;

receiving, via a computing device, the plurality of alignment date selections, each corresponding to one of the quickest alignment option, the lowest cost alignment option, the medication status alignment option, or a one of the one or more custom alignment options, wherein each selected alignment date is selected for at least two prescriptions;

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 one or more alignment dates associated with the selected prescription;

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

(a) whether each of the one or more alignment dates 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 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 one or more alignment dates for the prescription, supplying for each selected prescription aligned to the same date the same post-alignment day supply as 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 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 determined next fill dates is later than the benchmark date, the subsequent next fill date for the benchmark prescription as the benchmark date;

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; and

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 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, a 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.