Giving Compass' Take:

• Mandy Roth shares how OptimizeRx, ScalaMed, and VendRx are working to reduce the cost of prescription drugs to improve health outcomes. 

• How can funders and impact investors work to reduce the cost of prescription drugs? Should the government work to reduce prescription drug costs? 

• Learn how partnerships can work to reduce prescription drug costs. 

OptimizeRx is a patient financial support software application that connects manufacturers, providers, pharmacies and patients. It replaces traditional physical drug samples by automating the process of distributing coupons and vouchers into healthcare providers’ electronic prescription workflow, then delivering them electronically to the pharmacy. The digital paperless platform offers patients cost savings, education, and adherence tools at the point of prescribing, including during discharge.

ScalaMed offers a patient prescription app utilizes blockchain technology, creating a cryptographically secure network. It plugs into the EMR and provides prescriber, pharmacy, and patient visibility into prescriptions from all sources. Such a system would provide advantages for telehealth practices and when there's a need to prescribe to patients in remote locations.

VendRx is a secure, automated prescription dispensing machine that resides in a provider's office. Once an e-prescription is ordered, it goes directly to the vending machine. It takes about a minute for the patient to fill their prescription on premise.

Read the full article about the cost of prescription drugs by Mandy Roth at HealthLeaders.