Method for conducting prescription drug co-payment plans
First Claim
1. A method of providing prescription benefits to subscribers under a subscriber co-pay plan via an electronic communications network to ensure that the subscriber receives a discounted prescription price, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) identifying a sponsor for a prescription benefits plan;
b) designing the prescription benefits plan to include a formulary of preferred medications, and to define prescription medications that are covered by the prescription benefits plan;
c) identifying at least one pharmacy that;
i) participates in the prescription benefits plan,ii) receives prescriptions for medication and prescription benefit claims from subscribers, andiii) fulfills the prescriptions for a discounted prescription price;
d) identifying at least one eligible subscriber having a valid credit or debit account with a creditor or institution and wishing to participate in the prescription benefits plan;
e) enrolling each eligible subscriber who wishes to participate in the prescription benefits plan and generating an electronic file for each of the eligible subscribers;
f) generating an eligibility profile for each subscriber and storing said eligibility profile in an electronic memory;
g) establishing a prescription benefits manager to administer the prescription benefits plan;
h) establishing a prescription claims processor that;
i) receives claims over the electronic communications network for prescription benefits from a participating pharmacy;
ii) adjudicates the claims in accordance with the subscriber'"'"'s eligibility profile; and
iii) upon approval of a claim, charges the subscriber'"'"'s credit or debit account for accepted claims via the electronic communications network, the amount of the charge being equal to the discounted price of the prescription minus a predetermined co-payment which is tendered by the subscriber to the pharmacy at the time of fulfilling the prescription;
i) making a first payment via the electronic communications network by the creditor to the prescription benefits manager, the first payment being equal to the amount charged to the subscriber'"'"'s account minus a first predetermined service fee to be retained by the creditor;
j) making a second payment via the electronic communications network by the prescription benefits manager to the pharmacy, the second payment being equal to a predetermined portion of the discounted prescription price; and
k) making a third payment via the electronic communication network by the prescription benefits manager to the claims processor, the third payment being equal to a second predetermined service fee, wherein the second payment and the third payment are funded by the first payment and whereby the sum of the pre-determined co-payment and the amount charged to the subscriber'"'"'s account is the discounted prescription price paid by the subscriber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A credit card-based prescription benefits plan utilizes an electronic means for telecommunication to rapidly adjudicate prescription claims. The adjudication process includes a third-party claims processor interposed the pharmacy and the patient'"'"'s credit card clearinghouse to ensure that the subscriber receives all benefits available under the plan. The third-party claims processor may also provide patient counseling and advocacy by performing patient-specific drug regimen reviews to check for potential adverse drug reactions and drug interactions.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of providing prescription benefits to subscribers under a subscriber co-pay plan via an electronic communications network to ensure that the subscriber receives a discounted prescription price, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying a sponsor for a prescription benefits plan; b) designing the prescription benefits plan to include a formulary of preferred medications, and to define prescription medications that are covered by the prescription benefits plan; c) identifying at least one pharmacy that; i) participates in the prescription benefits plan, ii) receives prescriptions for medication and prescription benefit claims from subscribers, and iii) fulfills the prescriptions for a discounted prescription price; d) identifying at least one eligible subscriber having a valid credit or debit account with a creditor or institution and wishing to participate in the prescription benefits plan; e) enrolling each eligible subscriber who wishes to participate in the prescription benefits plan and generating an electronic file for each of the eligible subscribers; f) generating an eligibility profile for each subscriber and storing said eligibility profile in an electronic memory; g) establishing a prescription benefits manager to administer the prescription benefits plan; h) establishing a prescription claims processor that; i) receives claims over the electronic communications network for prescription benefits from a participating pharmacy; ii) adjudicates the claims in accordance with the subscriber'"'"'s eligibility profile; and iii) upon approval of a claim, charges the subscriber'"'"'s credit or debit account for accepted claims via the electronic communications network, the amount of the charge being equal to the discounted price of the prescription minus a predetermined co-payment which is tendered by the subscriber to the pharmacy at the time of fulfilling the prescription; i) making a first payment via the electronic communications network by the creditor to the prescription benefits manager, the first payment being equal to the amount charged to the subscriber'"'"'s account minus a first predetermined service fee to be retained by the creditor; j) making a second payment via the electronic communications network by the prescription benefits manager to the pharmacy, the second payment being equal to a predetermined portion of the discounted prescription price; and k) making a third payment via the electronic communication network by the prescription benefits manager to the claims processor, the third payment being equal to a second predetermined service fee, wherein the second payment and the third payment are funded by the first payment and whereby the sum of the pre-determined co-payment and the amount charged to the subscriber'"'"'s account is the discounted prescription price paid by the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification