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Humana and DrFirst Collaborate to Innovate Patient Care

In an exciting development for healthcare innovation, Humana Inc. and DrFirst have teamed up to address significant gaps in care for patients suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This partnership is aimed at delivering timely and effective medication management by enhancing communication between healthcare providers and patients, ultimately improving health outcomes.

The Challenge at Hand

As various chronic conditions continue to affect millions of individuals across the United States, it has become imperative to ensure that patients receive the appropriate medication and care they need to manage their health effectively. Statins, a class of drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol levels, have proven beneficial for certain Medicare patients by reducing cardiovascular risks. Nevertheless, ensuring that patients receive these prescriptions on time remains a challenge for many healthcare providers.

To tackle this issue, Humana and DrFirst have initiated a program that aims to strengthen the framework surrounding the prescription process. The initial focus of this collaboration will be to boost the use of statin therapy among eligible patients, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Seamless Integration into Healthcare Workflow

Employing the sophisticated DrFirst prescription orchestration platform, Humana intends to integrate directly into the clinical workflow of prescribers. Through this technology, Humana can proactively suggest new prescription recommendations for high-risk patients. With just one click, healthcare providers can either approve the suggestion and finalize a new prescription or indicate reasons why it may not be applicable to their patients.

Bethanie Stein, Pharm.D., President of Pharmacy at Humana, expressed the vision for this partnership: “We are not merely identifying gaps in patient care; we are ensuring that recommendations reach providers swiftly and in an actionable format. This allows healthcare professionals to redirect their focus towards patient care, tackling care disparities and striving for improved health outcomes.”

Enhancing Real-Time Collaboration

The collaborative efforts extend beyond just introducing novel technology; they are firmly centered around enhancing patient outcomes. DrFirst's platform is designed to create a real-time connection between healthcare stakeholders, including providers, pharmacies, and payers. This interconnectedness is vital in bridging the critical gaps in patient information and activity, fostering improved collaboration that ultimately contributes to positive outcomes.

Laizer Kornwasser, the CEO of DrFirst, elaborated on the company’s commitment to reducing friction within the healthcare landscape, stating, “This partnership signifies more than just technological innovation; it embodies our shared goals for achieving superior patient outcomes.”

The DrFirst e-prescribing technology is compatible with over 270 electronic health record systems (EHRs), ensuring that the prescription orchestration platform can be swiftly embedded into various healthcare settings, thus maximizing its impact.

A Legacy of Partnership

This collaboration is a continuation of a decade-long partnership between Humana and DrFirst, which has a proven track record of driving healthcare innovations. In 2015, both organizations pioneered the first real-time prescription benefit tool that enabled providers to obtain patient-specific coverage details, cost estimates, and prior authorization requirements at the point of prescribing.

Looking Ahead

The alliance between Humana and DrFirst heralds a new era in chronic disease management, setting the stage for future innovations in healthcare delivery. By focusing on a seamless and efficient prescription process, they are poised to improve health outcomes for millions while contributing to the reduction of healthcare expenses related to chronic conditions.

For more information about Humana and their services, visit Humana.com. For more about DrFirst and their innovative solutions, visit DrFirst.com.