| ePharmacy Functions Tally High Member Usage Humana members and physician offices are taking advantage of the growing number of online pharmacy resources. Since Humana began providing online access to comprehensive drug information, Humana's Drug List and pharmacy benefit details on www.humana.com, the number of visits to the pharmacy site has increased dramatically over the last year. More than 30,000 distinct users have visited the site each month. In June alone, more than 2,700 consumer-site visitors downloaded the Humana Drug List to their pocket PCs. "We expected these functions to be popular, but we are surprised by the high usage — which tells us that this information is clearly something members and provider offices find helpful," said Nancy Goodman, MBA, Humana's director of pharmacy communications and Internet. Out of all the ePharmacy functions, which are continually expanded, the number one look-up has been general drug information, where visitors obtain such information as what a drug is used for, typical dosages and advice on such issues as missing a dose. The second most popular look-up function allows a query regarding a particular drug's coverage status, cost and "tier" listing. The accompanying chart shows some of the more compelling site-visit statistics from recent months. There is also a growing interest in Humana's listing of "Patient Assistance Programs," which links to agencies, organizations and manufacturers that provide financial assistance to patients who cannot afford their prescriptions. The ePharmacy initiative, which Humana is implementing with its pharmacy benefit manager, AdvancePCS, is intended to help educate members and provide access to vital information. It is expected that the education and information access could eventually reduce the burden on physicians' offices as they manage their patients' prescription drug needs. For example, patients who have concerns about the out-of-pocket cost of a recommended drug can use the "Possible Alternative Drugs" function to obtain information about alternative medications, including the drug’s "tier" or benefit-level status. A query on Lipitor 10 mg, for instance, will provide a listing of all alternatives, brand and generic, and the corresponding economic impact on the member. "Physicians and their staff are the ones who receive the pharmacy and member call-backs when patients have concerns about prescription costs, so this education tool could eventually reduce the administrative burden for them as patients become better equipped to engage in discussions with their doctors about their options," Goodman said. She noted that the information tools are designed to educate members on aspects of medication use, including herbals and supplements, and are not intended as a substitute for a physician's advice.
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