WIRELESS CELLULAR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNTS AND THERAPY DELIVERY
First Claim
1. A method of delivering a prescription drug discount via a cellular message on a cellular carrier network, comprising the steps of:
- capturing a prescription token in a memory of a cellular communication device, the prescription token comprises at least one instructor, including a prescription drug identity, a prescription drug patient identity, a cell phone number related to the prescription drug patient identity, and at least one destination locator for a server computer communicatively connected to the cellular carrier network;
processing a message artifact of the prescription token by the cellular communication device, the message artifact comprises a destination address of the server computer communicatively accessible by the cellular carrier network and a request segment of a prescription drug identifier;
transmitting the message artifact by the cellular communication device over a cellular carrier network;
receiving the message artifact by the server computer at the destination address, as communicated by the cellular communication device over the cellular carrier network;
parsing the message artifact by the server computer;
generating the prescription token by the server computer after the step of parsing;
looking-up at least a portion of the prescription token in an eligibility database connected to the server computer, the eligibility database comprises at least one eligibility record related to the at least the portion of the prescription token;
retrieving the at least one eligibility record from the step of looking-up at least a portion of the prescription token;
looking-up at least a portion of the at least one eligibility record in a discount database, the discount database comprises at least one discount artifact related to the prescription drug identity of the at least one instructor;
retrieving the at least one discount artifact of the discount database from the step of looking-up the at least a portion of the at least one eligibility record;
processing the at least one discount artifact by the server computer to generate a discount coupon;
sending the discount coupon by the server computer for receipt by the cellular communication device from the cellular carrier network;
receiving the discount coupon by the cellular communication device from the cellular carrier network;
presenting the discount coupon, together with a drug prescription per the prescription drug identity of the at least one instructor, to a pharmacy gateway by the cellular communication device;
communicating the drug prescription, together with the prescription drug patient identity of the at least one instructor, to a benefit processor by the server computer;
determining a coverage benefit by the benefit processor based on the drug prescription and the prescription drug patient identity;
communicating the coverage benefit to the pharmacy gateway;
communicating an eligibility update notification to the server computer by the benefit processor, after the step of communicating the coverage benefit to the pharmacy gateway;
receiving the eligibility update notification by the server computer;
updating the at least one eligibility record of the eligibility database via the server computer, in response to the eligibility update notification;
processing the eligibility update notification to derive a prescription refill date related to the at least one eligibility record; and
storing the prescription refill date in the eligibility record.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of delivering a prescription drug discount via a cellular message on a cellular carrier network includes capturing a prescription token in a memory of a cellular device. The cellular device processes the prescription token to sending a message artifact as a cellular message, such as SMS message, over a carrier network to a discount service computer. The discount service computer receives and parses the message artifact, and reconstructs the prescription token. The discount service computer includes an eligibility database of prescription drug patients, cell numbers, and prescription drug identities. The prescription token is matched to a record of the eligibility database, if any exist, and otherwise a corresponding record is generated for the prescription token. The discount service computer accesses a discount database to retrieve a discount coupon relevant to the record of the eligibility database and the prescription drug identity from the prescription token. The discount coupon is sent by response message to the cellular device as a text message. The cellular device receives the text message and provides the message to a pharmacy, together with a prescription script for a prescription drug of the prescription drug identity. The pharmacy communicates the script to a benefit processor. The benefit processor adjudicates an insured coverage claim related to the script and the patient per the script. The benefit processor communicates a result of the adjudication to the pharmacy. The pharmacy discounts pricing for the prescription to the patient by a discount per the discount coupon, if insurance coverage is not applicable to the prescription, and per the discount coupon and coverage benefit, if insurance coverage is applicable. The benefit processor communicates the prescription transaction to the discount service computer, and the eligibility database is updated accordingly. The discount service computer sends additional text messages to the cell phone regarding prescription refill discounts and other advertising.
37 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of delivering a prescription drug discount via a cellular message on a cellular carrier network, comprising the steps of:
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capturing a prescription token in a memory of a cellular communication device, the prescription token comprises at least one instructor, including a prescription drug identity, a prescription drug patient identity, a cell phone number related to the prescription drug patient identity, and at least one destination locator for a server computer communicatively connected to the cellular carrier network; processing a message artifact of the prescription token by the cellular communication device, the message artifact comprises a destination address of the server computer communicatively accessible by the cellular carrier network and a request segment of a prescription drug identifier; transmitting the message artifact by the cellular communication device over a cellular carrier network; receiving the message artifact by the server computer at the destination address, as communicated by the cellular communication device over the cellular carrier network; parsing the message artifact by the server computer; generating the prescription token by the server computer after the step of parsing; looking-up at least a portion of the prescription token in an eligibility database connected to the server computer, the eligibility database comprises at least one eligibility record related to the at least the portion of the prescription token; retrieving the at least one eligibility record from the step of looking-up at least a portion of the prescription token; looking-up at least a portion of the at least one eligibility record in a discount database, the discount database comprises at least one discount artifact related to the prescription drug identity of the at least one instructor; retrieving the at least one discount artifact of the discount database from the step of looking-up the at least a portion of the at least one eligibility record; processing the at least one discount artifact by the server computer to generate a discount coupon; sending the discount coupon by the server computer for receipt by the cellular communication device from the cellular carrier network; receiving the discount coupon by the cellular communication device from the cellular carrier network; presenting the discount coupon, together with a drug prescription per the prescription drug identity of the at least one instructor, to a pharmacy gateway by the cellular communication device; communicating the drug prescription, together with the prescription drug patient identity of the at least one instructor, to a benefit processor by the server computer; determining a coverage benefit by the benefit processor based on the drug prescription and the prescription drug patient identity; communicating the coverage benefit to the pharmacy gateway; communicating an eligibility update notification to the server computer by the benefit processor, after the step of communicating the coverage benefit to the pharmacy gateway; receiving the eligibility update notification by the server computer; updating the at least one eligibility record of the eligibility database via the server computer, in response to the eligibility update notification; processing the eligibility update notification to derive a prescription refill date related to the at least one eligibility record; and storing the prescription refill date in the eligibility record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for delivering a prescription drug discount via a cellular message of a carrier network, comprising:
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a prescription script; a cell phone relationally connected to the prescription script, comprising; a processor; a radio connected to the processor; a phone number communicatively accessible on the carrier network; a prescription token of the cell phone communicated by the radio of the cell phone on the carrier network; an output interface of the cell phone connected to the processor; a server computer communicatively connected to the cell phone via the carrier network, to receive the prescription token; an eligibility database and a discount database of the server computer, the server computer controls the eligibility database and the discount database in response to receiving the prescription token; a discount coupon of the discount database, communicated by the server computer to the cell phone at the phone number via the carrier network, in response to receiving the prescription token; a pharmacy gateway communicatively connected to the cell phone, to receive the discount coupon from the cell phone and the prescription script; a benefit processor communicatively connected to the pharmacy gateway and the server computer, comprising; a database; a benefit artifact of the database relationally associated to the discount coupon and the prescription script; a first communicator connected to the benefit artifact, for communicating the benefit artifact to the pharmacy gateway; and a second communicator connected to the benefit artifact, for communicating the benefit artifact to the server computer; wherein the server computer updates the eligibility database in response to receiving the benefit artifact from the second communicator of the benefit processor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification