SACRAMENTO, CA – In an effort to push California’s goal of a wired health system, The California Public Employee’s Retirement System has partnered with Anthem Blue Cross, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., and Blue Shield of California. The objective is to deploy a statewide e-prescribing platform, the largest initiative in the state’s history.

 The first stages of the initiative will employ the use of physician input to determine best practices for proper use of e-prescribing.

  “We believe that e-prescribing is the first step to wiring healthcare, and that working well with doctors is essential to e-prescribing’s success,” said John P. Driscoll, Medco’s president of new markets. “Our initiative will help us identify how to best transition to technology solutions that will help doctors improve outcomes and lower costs.”

  One of the focuses of the pilot program is to address barriers providers face with e-prescribing. The project involves working with physicians that provide care to members of CalPERS and other community patients.

  “e-Prescribing reduces medication errors, lowers prescription drug costs and decreases administrative costs for physicians and pharmacies,” said Nancy Stalker, vice president, pharmacy benefit management, Blue Shield of California.