LACDMH Decommisions PATS, you need a Surescripts certified solution

LACounty DMH is decommissioning its Prescription Authorization and Tracking System (PATS), targeting this for July -Sept 2012.

This system has been used by DMH contracted pharmacies to access prescriptions written by contract providers for DMH CGF clients. It assists in the authorization for the prescription too.

What this means for you as a contract provider....

If you currently use PATS to prescribe for DMH CGF clients, you must BEFORE 1st fiscal Quarter 2012/13:

• select a "Surescripts certified" e-prescribing solution. (see HERE);
• this can be a stand alone solution, which can be as simply as an agreement with a provider that your prescribers log into via the Internet, and you pay a monthly per prescriber fee, or an optional feature integrated with your EHR-S product, always priced separately.
• implement it, test it, train prescribers, and then put it into production no later than June 2012 (unless they slip their date)
  
  
  Use this link to search and see if your product is certifieed: http://www.surescripts.com/connect-to-surescripts/prescriber-software.aspx

Surescripts Certified e-prescribing EHR-S'

As we hear from LACDMH at the September 20th CPTT meeting, DMH is decommissioning their PATS prescribing authorization system in 1st Fiscal Quarter 2012/13.

They are requiring you to have a Surescripts Certified e-prescribing solution. Many of my LA County clients have asked me which EHR-S vendors have a certified solution. So, here ya go:
Of the vendors doing most of the business in LA County, the following EHR systems are listed as certified on the Superscripts site here: http://www.surescripts.com/connect-to-surescripts/prescriber-software.aspx

If you know of any others, please let me know.

• Anasazi (as EMR)
• Askesis (via standalone Allscripts ePrescribe 15.1)
• ClaimTrak (as EMR)
• DeFran (as EMR)
• Netsmart (as EMR)
• Sequest (via standalone DrFirst Rcopia 3.0)
• Unicare (via standalone DrFirst Rcopia 3.0)
• Welligent (via Emdeon's EMR, Clinician 7)

NEWS FLASH: Netsmart just acquired Sequest!

NEWS FLASH: Netsmart just acquired Sequest! http://www.sequest.net/

LACDMH seeks approval for their new EHR-S product/vendor agreement (IBHIS)

The long awaited event is here,.... Yes, Victoria , there will be an IBHIS!

At the upcoming October 11th meeting of the LA County BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, the board will be asked to approve the agreement with Netsmart Technologies, Inc. (Netsmart) for the provision of an Integrated Behavioral Health Information System (IBHIS or the System).

See agenda item #25 on the agenda: http://bos.co.la.ca.us/Categories/Agenda/cms1_166462.pdf
 
See letter to the board with specifics here: http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/63883.pdf; (359 pages of it! but page 12 has cost summary and page 14 begins the actual Netsmart agreement) the section on Risk Mitigation Measures is particularly interesting, as is the contract itself, as many of you have similar discussions with your selected vendors during contract negotiations.

The agreement will take some time to comb through, but likely some good ideas here for you and your contracts. The functional requirements they signed up for are spelled out in detail as well.
Don't get too excited, implementation will take awhile, 2014 was last guess.

How did they get here, you ask?

• November 2004, The MHS-Act was passed by California voters in
• September 2008, the initial IBHIS RFP was released.
• November 2009, DMH reissued the IBHIS RFP.
• February 2010, six (6) proposals were submitted in response to the second RFP. (of note is that Netsmart is the only one of the 6 that is a usual suspect in LA County for EHR systems, marketing to contract providers. See page 11 for the list)
• in the process Netsmart was acquired by Genstar Capital.
• October 2011, they may have a signed agreement...
• 2014 ?? they may have a new system.