In Brief: Workers\' Comp System Could Save Millions With Drug Formulary; MemorialCare Medical Foundation Acquires Imaging Centers
Workers' Comp System Could Save Millions With Drug Formulary
A new study by the California Workers' Compensation Institute concludes that the use of a state-mandated drug formulary would cut pharmacy payments for cases at least $124 million a year and as much as $420 million. Quality of care could also be improved as a result, according to the report.
Researchers came to this conclusion by using the 1.6 million prescriptions filled for workers' comp claimants in California between January 2012 and June 2013, and applying the formularies that are in place in Washington State and Texas. As a result, 17% of all prescriptions and 29% of all payments would be excluded in California under such a formulary system. Payments for brand-name drugs would be cut between 42% and 95%, while the use of addictive opioid painkillers would shrink between 36% and 45%, while cutting associated payments for those medications between 65% and 78%.
MemorialCare Medical Foundation Acquires Imaging Centers
The Fountain Valley-based MemorialCare Medical Foundation has acquired eight freestanding imaging centers that are located in Orange County and south Los Angeles County.
MemorialCare Medical previously owned a 49% stake in five of the centers, which operated under the business name Wave Imaging LLC. It now owns 100% of the centers and its operating company.
Additionally, MemorialCare Medical also acquired three other imaging centers operated by Strategic Medical. Those centers are located in Newport Beach, Laguna Hills and Long Beach. They provide services such as MRIs advanced PET scans and nuclear medicine.
"The expansion of high quality imaging centers that play a major role in diagnosing medical conditions provides more convenient options for MemorialCare's growing patient base in Los Angeles and Orange counties," said Mark Schafer, M.D., the MemorialCare Medical's chief executive officer.
The MemorialCare Medical Foundation, which is affiliated with the MemorialCare hospital system, includes more than 2,000 physicians in the region.
Firm Introduces Universal EHR Service
A Dana Point company has introduced what it says is a universal electronic health record.
SecondOpinionExpert said its proprietary EHR system allows medical records to be accessed by providers, patients and their families simply by using a Web browser. The company said its system overcomes the issues presented by hospitals using incompatible electronic medical records systems, or the geographical limitations of regional health information organizations (RHIOs).
The company also said it will launch next month a system for patients to obtain second medical opinions from specialist physicians via the Internet and videoconferencing.
