SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VARIABLE CUSTOMER PRICING FOR VIRTUAL PHARMACIES

• US 20120253830A1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: McKesson Corp.
• Original Assignee: McKesson Corp.
• Inventors: John, Pramod, Gallacher, Sean, Reddy, Rick, Silverberg, David
• Application Number:
  US13/075,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253830A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Systems and methods may be provided for interactive virtual pharmacies. The systems and methods may include receiving, by a non-dispensing virtual pharmacy comprising one or more computers, an electronic prescription associated with a patient, where the electronic prescription is associated with at least one drug or product prescribed for the patient; determining, by the non-dispensing virtual pharmacy, a respective total price payable to each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies for filling the prescription for the patient; determining, by the non-dispensing virtual pharmacy based upon the determined respective total price, a respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies; and delivering, in real-time from the non-dispensing virtual pharmacy to a patient device, an identification of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies and the respective patient payment amount at each dispensing pharmacy.

Claims

1. A method for determining patient pricing for one or more drugs or products, comprising:

receiving, by a non-dispensing virtual pharmacy comprising one or more computers, an electronic prescription associated with a patient, wherein the electronic prescription is associated with at least one drug or product prescribed for the patient;

determining, by the non-dispensing virtual pharmacy, a respective total price payable to each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies for filling the prescription for the patient;

determining, by the non-dispensing virtual pharmacy based upon the determined respective total price, a respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies; and

delivering, in real-time from the non-dispensing virtual pharmacy to a patient device, an identification of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies and the respective patient payment amount at each dispensing pharmacy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies comprises:

determining a target amount for the drug or product;

calculating a difference between the respective total price payable and the target amount; and

determining the respective patient payable amount based at least in part on the calculated difference.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the target amount is one of (i) a predefined amount set by a payor, or (ii) an amount based upon an industry standard amount associated with the drug or cost.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the industry standard amount is an average wholesale price (AWP) or a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC).

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the target amount is a lowest amount determined for any respective total price payable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies comprises:

calculating a percentage amount of the respective total price, wherein the respective patient payable amount is based at least in part on the calculated percentage amount.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein if the calculated percentage amount is less than a minimum amount, then the respective patient payable amount is set to the minimum amount, or if the calculated percentage amount is greater than a maximum amount, then the respective patient payable amount is set to the maximum amount.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic prescription is received in conjunction with information identifying a first payor of the patient, and wherein one or more of the determined respective total prices are available for the first payor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the determined respective total prices are available for a second payor different from the first payor, the second payor not currently associated with the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the patient device, a selection of one of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies; and

receiving, via the patient device, identification of a financial instrument for payment of the respective patient payment amount corresponding to the selected dispensing pharmacy.

11. A system, comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive an electronic prescription associated with a patient, wherein the electronic prescription is associated with at least one drug or product prescribed for the patient;

determine a respective total price payable to each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies for filling the prescription for the patient;

determine, based upon the determined respective total price, a respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies; and

deliver, in real-time to a patient device, an identification of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies and the respective patient payment amount at each dispensing pharmacy,

wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are associated with a non-dispensing virtual pharmacy.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies by:

determining a target amount for the drug or product;

calculating a difference between the respective total price payable and the target amount; and

determining the respective patient payable amount based at least in part on the calculated difference.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the target amount is one of (i) a predefined amount set by a payor, or (ii) an amount based upon an industry standard amount associated with the drug or cost.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the industry standard amount is an average wholesale price (AWP) or a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC).

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the target amount is a lowest amount determined for any respective total price payable.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the respective patient payable amount for filling the prescription at each of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies by:

calculating a percentage amount of the respective total price, wherein the respective patient payable amount is based at least in part on the calculated percentage amount.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein if the calculated percentage amount is less than a minimum amount, then the respective patient payable amount is set to the minimum amount, or if the calculated percentage amount is greater than a maximum amount, then the respective patient payable amount is set to the maximum amount.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic prescription is received in conjunction with information identifying a first payor of the patient, and wherein one or more of the determined respective total prices are available for the first payor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein one or more of the determined respective total prices are available for a second payor different from the first payor, the second payor not currently associated with the patient.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from the patient device, a selection of one of the plurality of dispensing pharmacies; and

receive, via the patient device, identification of a financial instrument for payment of the respective patient payment amount corresponding to the selected dispensing pharmacy.