Pharmacy Computers Linked to New Medicare Rx Benefit

In a move designed to make it easierfor Medicare beneficiaries to get prescriptiondrugs from their local pharmacies,the Centers for Medicare andMedicaid Services (CMS) has approvednew technology that will provide realtimeeligibility verification at the prescriptioncounter.

The new technology will allowpharmacists to use their existing computersystems to determine whichMedicare drug plan to bill and whetherthe beneficiary has other drug coverage,all while the beneficiary is at thecounter, CMS officials said.

This new system will help beneficiariestake advantage of their coverageeven if they do not have their benefitcard.

Mr. Rankin is a freelance medical writer.