New Hampshire citizens health initiative to promote electronic prescriptions

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) and Citizens Health Initiative -- which includes doctors, pharmacists, insurers and representatives from hospitals -- on Thursday announced a goal for all doctors in the state to be able to use electronic prescription systems by 2008, Foster's Daily Democrat reports.

According to Phil Boulter, a member of the initiative, about 80% of pharmacies in the state have the technology to accommodate e-prescriptions, and doctors would not need to invest in a particular technology to participate.

The New Hampshire initiative also is working with health insurance providers to develop common pay-for-performance standards, including incentives for physicians who adopt e-prescription systems.

Gov. Lynch said e-prescribing "will improve health care quality and help save lives, while at the same time reducing health care costs and improving the efficiency of our health care system."

Palmer Jones, executive director of the New Hampshire Medical Society, said, "The issue for physicians is not the cost; the issue is making sure the system is compatible with everyone else, and that it will be compatible three or five years from now" (Manning, Foster's Daily Democrat, 10/20).