CVS switches to e-prescribing tool

Woonsocket, R.I. CVS Caremark Corp. plans to partner with electronic health-records maker Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, and begin switching clients to Allscripts' e-prescribing tool.

CVS will stop offering its iScribe prescription tool and transition thousands of clients to products made by Allscripts. E-prescribing allows physicians to send prescriptions directly to a pharmacy by e-mail, and gives the physician information about potential drug interactions and the patient's health insurance. They can also use it to follow up with patients about unfilled prescriptions.

CVS said current iScribe users will have the opportunity to switch to a full electronic health-record system made by Allscripts. That would allow the customers to qualify for up to $64,000 in federal economic stimulus funding starting in 2011.