SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Evaluating the Availability and Accuracy of Real-Time Prescription Benefit Tools

Pdf Summary

This retrospective cohort study examined the availability and accuracy of Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB) tools in electronic health records for new medications prescribed at hospital discharge. The study analyzed 3,542 charts from general medicine patients discharged over seven months at an academic medical center, focusing on oral medications and insulin.<br /><br />The main goal was to determine how often RTPB tools could provide prescription price estimates or actionable guidance and how accurate those estimates were compared with actual prices paid. Results showed that 73.4% of patients had a primary pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) automatically selected, while 26.6% had no PBM identified or selected. Among a subgroup of 998 charts, 426 patients had a new discharge prescription. In this group, the RTPB tool returned a price estimate in 73.9% of cases, an actionable message in 16.4%, and no estimate or suggestion in 9.6%. Overall, this translated to RTPB availability of 66.4%.<br /><br />For accuracy, a subgroup of 38 discharge prescriptions sent to the hospital outpatient pharmacy showed that the RTPB tool estimated the prescription price within $3 of the actual cost in 89% of cases.<br /><br />The study concludes that RTPB tools are available for many, but not all, prescriptions and can be highly accurate when they do return an estimate. However, their usefulness depends on PBM support, patient identification, and vendor transmission. The authors suggest that broader policy support, system improvements, and provider education could increase RTPB use and improve prescription price transparency and medication adherence.

Asset Subtitle

Sharmila Tilak

Meta Tag

Author List Jeffrey L. Schnipper, Sharmila Tilak

Category Research

Concept Real-Time Prescription Benefit

Concept Prescription Price Transparency

Concept Retrospective Cohort Study

Concept Tool Availability

Concept Tool Accuracy

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Brigham and Women's Hospital

Presenting Author Sharmila Tilak

Track Technology in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

Real-Time Prescription Benefit

RTPB

prescription price transparency

electronic health records

hospital discharge

pharmacy benefit manager

medication cost estimate

prescription accuracy

retrospective cohort study

medication adherence

Real-Time Prescription Benefit

Prescription Price Transparency

Retrospective Cohort Study

Tool Availability

Tool Accuracy