Method of remotely filling a prescription for a patient

• US 20050240523A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MDDC, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MDDC, Inc.
• Inventors: Aldrich, Kenneth J., Richardson, Susan K., Richardson, Kent A., Aldrich, Constance S.
• Application Number:
  US10/832,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method of remotely filling a prescription for a patient is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (a) receiving a patient'"'"'s prescription for a drug, medicine, or other treatment (100); (b) performing at least one drug utilization review based on the prescription (102); (c) filling the prescription (104); (d) providing the filled prescription to a local pharmacy (106); and (e) receiving payment for the filled prescription from the patient (108). Thus, the method combines the services and counseling available from a local pharmacy with the convenience and price associated with a mail-order pharmacy.

Claims

1. A method of remotely filling a prescription for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the prescription;

(b) performing at least one drug utilization review based on the prescription;

(c) filling the prescription;

(d) providing the filled prescription to a local pharmacy; and

(e) receiving payment for the filled prescription from the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one part of the method is implemented by a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for operating computing equipment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the computer program includes a web-server hosting a web-site.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the drug utilization review is performed by the computer program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription is received electronically.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the prescription is received by a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for operating computing equipment.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the prescription is received as a scanned image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription is filled by an automated filling system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the payment from the patient is made through a third party payer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes the additional step of pricing the prescription.

11. A method of remotely filling a prescription for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a scanned image of the prescription from a local pharmacy;

(b) pricing the prescription;

(c) performing a first drug utilization review;

(d) performing a second drug utilization review;

(e) utilizing an automated filling system to fill the prescription;

(f) checking the filled prescription for accuracy;

(g) creating a document comprising information regarding the filled prescription, including a non-reproducible copy of the scanned image and a physical description of the filled prescription;

(h) sending the filled prescription and the document to the local pharmacy in a tamper evident package; and

(i) receiving payment for the filled prescription from the patient.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one part of the method is implemented by a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for operating computing equipment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer program includes a web-server hosting a web-site.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the scanned image of the prescription is received by the computer program.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first drug utilization review is performed by the computer program.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the second drug utilization review is performed by the computer program.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the document comprising information regarding the filled prescription is created by the computer program.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the payment from the patient is received by the computer program.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the results of the first drug utilization review and second drug utilization review are stored by the computer program in the computer-readable medium.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the results of the first drug utilization review and second drug utilization review are communicated to the local pharmacy by the computer program.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the payment from the patient is made through a third party payer.

22. A method of remotely filling a prescription for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information from a local pharmacy through a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for operating computing equipment, the information including a scanned image of the prescription and a name of the prescription.

(b) pricing the payment utilizing a third party benefit management company;

(c) performing a first drug utilization review with the computer program and communicating the results of the first drug utilization review to the local pharmacy;

(d) having a first remote pharmacist perform a second drug utilization review and communicating the results of the second drug utilization review to the local pharmacy;

(e) utilizing an automated filled system to interface with the computer program to fill the prescription;

(f) having a second remote pharmacist verify the accuracy of the filled prescription;

(g) generating a document with the computer program comprising information regarding the filled prescription, including a non-reproducible copy of the scanned image, a physical description of the filled prescription, and directions for using the filled prescription;

(h) sending the filled prescription and the document to the local pharmacy in a tamper evident package; and

(i) receiving payment for the filled prescription from the patient.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the computer program includes a web-server operating a web-site.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the computer program communicates the results of the first drug utilization review and second drug utilization review to the local pharmacy.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the payment from the patient is made through a third party payer.