Epocrates Puts More than 20 Health Plan
Drug Formularies at Your Fingertips
New Member Benefit Improves Care, Saves Time, Cuts Pharmacy ‘Callbacks’
[Posted 07/14/05]

When CMA in 2003 asked solo and small group practitioners what practice resources they’d most like to see from CMA, physicians placed up-to-minute health plan drug formulary information near the top of their wish lists.

CMA responded by partnering with Epocrates, a service that delivers point-of-care access to important drug, disease, and diagnostic information via PDA or the Internet. Through Epocrates, physicians can access current formulary information for more than 20 health plans in California. The database provides information on drug coverage, copay levels, preauthorization requirements, and therapeutic and generic alternatives.

Accessing this formulary information before you write a prescription can save your patients and your practice time and money. In a recent survey of Epocrates users, California physicians reported a 55 percent reduction in callbacks from pharmacists about prescriptions not covered by a patient’s insurance plan.

“Epocrates allows physicians to make better clinical decisions, save time, and improve quality of care,” says Ronald Bangasser, M.D., CMA past president and a family practitioner in Redlands. “After a thorough vetting process, CMA’s patient safety and technology committees agreed that Epocrates brings physicians the most relevant, timely clinical and formulary information. Many of our members already use Epocrates, and we believe this partnership—which includes substantial member discounts—will bring this superior service to thousands more.”

CMA members receive 30 percent off one-year subscriptions and 35 percent off two-year subscriptions to any Epocrates product. Students and residents receive 50 percent off.

Contact: CMA’s legal information line, 415/882-5144 or legalinfo@cmanet.org.