Blue Cross Blue Shield N.C. goes statewide with "ePrescribe" program

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is taking its “ePrescribe” program across the state in an effort to help doctors prescribe and pharmacies to fulfill drug orders through online orders.

BCBSNC launched a pilot program in 2006, and some 4 million prescriptions have been fulfilled through it.

According to BCBS, each doctor using the system can save an average of $250 a month through increased productivity and prescribing more generic drugs. BCBSNC also believes the online system will reduce prescription errors.

An ePrescription website is available that offers free software as well as information about devices such as personal data assistants to access the site and connectivity.

Providers also can receive up to $1,000 from BCBSNC for using the system.

“The success of our ePrescribe pilot program convinced us to make electronic prescribing more readily available now to all North Carolina providers,” said BCBSNC Chief Executive Officer Bob Greczyn. “Our pilot program clearly shows that ePrescribing reduces physician and pharmacy administrative costs, saves customers money and ensures patient safety by reducing potential medical errors. Electronic prescribing is the way of the future. ”