Method of delivering a pharmaceutical product via a medium

• US 8,407,095 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trialcard Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trialcard Incorporated
• Inventors: Cunningham, David W., Harden, John M., Engle, William N., Reuben, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Application Number:
  US13/209,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 705 16- 18
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

One or more embodiments include a method of delivering a pharmaceutical product via a medium. The pharmaceutical product is associated with the medium and the medium assumes different values based on predetermined business rules. The method includes generating data in a database associated with a central computing station where the data identifies the medium and the product associated with the medium. The database is provisioned with the rules that determine the value of the medium. In response to the holder presenting the medium to a provider of the product for purposes of obtaining the product, a communication from the provider is received identifying the medium. A value for the medium is established based on the rules provisioned in the database. The value of the medium is updated, and that updated value is recorded in the database in response to the provider providing the product to the holder of the medium.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a pharmaceutical product via a medium where the pharmaceutical product is associated with the medium and the medium assumes different values based on predetermined business rules, the method comprising:

generating data in a database associated with a central computing station where the data identifies the medium and the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium;

provisioning the database with the predetermined business rules that determines the value of the medium;

in response to a holder presenting the medium to a provider of the pharmaceutical product for purposes of obtaining the pharmaceutical product, receiving at the central computing station a communication from the provider identifying the medium presented to the provider by the holder;

establishing a value for the medium, using the central computing station, based on the predetermined business rules provisioned in the database; and

updating the value of the medium and recording the updated value in the database, using the central computing station, in response to the provider of the pharmaceutical product providing the pharmaceutical product to the holder of the medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the provisioned business rules that determine the value of the medium base the value of the medium on a co-payment of the holder.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the value of the medium varies with a co-payment of the holder and wherein the method includes in response to the holder presenting the medium to the provider, determining the holder'"'"'s co-payment for the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the value of the medium to the provider whereupon the holder utilizes the medium to purchase the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein initially the medium assumes an inactive state and wherein subsequently the medium assumes an active state, and wherein the medium in an inactive state is ineffective to purchase the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

6. The method of claim 1 including recording a unique identifier in the database where the unique identifier is associated with the medium.

7. The method of claim 1 further including:

assigning an inactive status to the medium such that while assuming the inactive status the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium may not be redeemed or partly redeemed with the medium;

recording the inactive status in the database; and

activating the medium by changing the status of the medium from an inactive state to an active state and recording the change of the status in the database.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the value of the medium varies with a co-payment of the holder and wherein the method includes in response to the holder presenting the medium to the provider, determining the holder'"'"'s co-payment for the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium;

and communicating the value of the medium to the provider whereupon the holder utilizes the value to purchase the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

9. The method of claim 8 further including:

assigning an inactive status to the medium such that while assuming the inactive status the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium may not be redeemed or partly redeemed with the medium;

recording the inactive status in the database; and

activating the medium by changing the status of the medium from an inactive state to an active state and recording the change of the status in the database.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein based on the medium and the business rules provisioned in the database, communicating the value of the medium to the provider whereupon the holder utilizes the value to purchase the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium;

and wherein initially the medium assumes an inactive state and wherein subsequently the medium assumes an active state, and wherein the medium in an inactive state is ineffective to purchase the pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

11. The method of claim 10 including recording a unique identifier in the database where the unique identifier is associated with the medium.