[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 210 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 65902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21731]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services


Notice of Grant Award to MedCO Health Solutions, Inc., To 
Evaluate an Open-Source Project Entitled, ``A Comparison of Multiple 
Methods to Incent Physicians To Adopt Electronic Prescribing Devices''

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Grant Award.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has awarded a 
grant entitled, ``A Comparison of Multiple Methods To Incent Physicians 
To Adopt Electronic Prescribing Devices'' to Medco Health Solutions, 
Inc., 100 Parsons Pond Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 in response to 
an unsolicited proposal. The period of performance is August 1, 2005 
through July 31, 2006. The purpose of this grant is to fund an initial 
evaluation of the Southeastern Michigan e-Prescribing Initiative (SEMI) 
project. Through the use of e-prescribing, this program is intended to 
reduce the costs associated with the use of prescription drugs, and 
improve safety for patients, including Medicare beneficiaries, 
associated with an estimated 6,000 targeted physicians/prescribers in 
Southeastern Michigan. The project involves the active collaboration of 
multiple employers, insurance entities and care providers in eight 
counties in Southeastern Michigan. Partners include the Big Three 
automakers, Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler; Blue Cross/Blue 
Shield of Michigan; Henry Ford Health System/Health Alliance Plan; 
Health Plus of Michigan; SureScripts, RxHub and MedCo. This is a unique 
project in terms of size, sponsoring organizations, patient base, 
geographic area, and approach. This project is consistent with CMS' 
goals to improve health care quality, patient safety, and the use of 
electronic prescribing. Funding of this unsolicited proposal will 
result in a desirable public benefit in that its aim is to provide 
needed information on the costs and critical success factors associated 
with the adoption of electronic prescribing, as well as to provide 
improvements in quality and safety of care delivery.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Friedman, Project Officer, 
Office of e-health Standards and Services, Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd., Stop S2-27-17, Baltimore, MD 
21244, (410) 786-6333 or Judy Norris, Grants Officer, Department of 
Health and Human Services, OOM/AGG/CMS, 7500 Security Blvd., Stop S2-
21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244, (410) 786-5130.

    Authority: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 
93-779, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Research, 
Demonstrations and Evaluations; Section 1110 of the Social Security 
Act.

    Dated: August 9, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-21731 Filed 10-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P