Following a four-month review of the 2007 version 4.0 standard, the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy has announced the release of version 4.1 of its prescription-monitoring standard. Stakeholders taking part in the updating process included a number of states with operational prescription-monitoring programs, national drug chains and independents, and pharmacy system vendors. The goal was to improve the quality of information reported to the states, while at the same time not increasing the complexity to report controlled substances dispensed. Also, preserving backward compatibility with version 4.0 that was published in 2007 was an overriding priority of the workgroup. Currently 33 states have prescription-monitoring programs, where the ASAP standard is used, with several more scheduled to implement such a program using the ASAP standard.
Prescription-monitoring programs are implemented to detect fraud, diversion of controlled substances, and potential abuse of these drugs. The latest release includes provision for capturing information from electronic prescriptions for tracking purposes, once e-prescribing is allowed for controlled substances.
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ASAP Puts Dollar Value on Technology
October 2009
The American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) announces the results of a year-long analysis on the value of the technology used in pharmacy. The purpose was to show how the investment pharmacists make in computer systems, supporting databases, and related technology contribute to patient safety, medication compliance, and prevention of fraud and abuse. The organization determined that the technology used and costs incurred are overlooked in efforts to justify higher reimbursement from prescription drug plans.
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ASAP Announces MTM Standard
July 2009
ASAP recently completed work on a standard to facilitate information exchange between MTM companies such as Mirixa and Outcomes and the pharmacies in their networks via computer-to-computer notification of MTM opportunities. This is a bidirectional information exchange standard that also permits pharmacies to populate the MTM's patient files with medications that were not submitted to the patient's insurance plan as well as OTCs that may be on file in the pharmacy. Read the full press release. Click on the bookstore tab to order.
Electronic Reporting Standard for Prescription Monitoring Programs 2007 Released
Version 4 Release 0 of the ASAP PMP IG is now available. For complete details, please download the press release. Please click on the bookstore tab to order.
ASAP PSE-Tracking Standard Announcement
September 2007
We are pleased to announce the release of the new ASAP Pseudoephedrine (PSE)-Tracking Program Standard, the result of a five month effort by a workgroup specifically convened to develop this standard. For complete details, please download the press release.
PSTAC Working to Advance Professional Services in Pharmacy
A lot of important work is being done by the Pharmacy Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC) to advance pharmacy's role in the area of professional services, specifically in medication therapy management, and to capitalize on the opportunity that Medicare Part D will present. To gain more familiarity with PSTAC we encourage you to visit their web site at www.pstac.org
ASAP Joins IJIS Institute Alliance Partner Program
For more information on the IJIS Institute and its roll in helping to advance the information sharing field as well as a link to the IJIS web site, see the News Archive/Links section.
Final Rule on AMP
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Keystone CMI Guideline Recommendations
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ASAP President's Report, January 15, 2010
View the President's Report presented to the membership at the Midyear Industry & Technology Issues Conference at The Seelbach Hilton, Louisville, Kentucky.
Upcoming Events
2011 Annual Industry & Technology Issues Conference
January 20-22
The Ritz-Carlton
Amelia Island, Florida
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Members who have questions, comments, or who need information about what's happening in pharmacy technology and automation, please call or email us. If we can't answer your question, we'll get the answer for you.
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