Patent ID: 8781857

Claim:
A method for facilitating the delivery of prescription products or services using a processing unit programmed with a rules engine to facilitate the method, the method comprising the steps of: using a database for storage and retrieval of information by the processing unit; using a plurality of input/output devices for communication; communicating, from a customer to the processing unit, unfilled prescription information and customer information, wherein the unfilled prescription was provided by a prescriber; communicating, from the processing unit to the customer, cost information for both the unfilled prescription and for any similar products or services; the customer comparing the cost information; the customer selecting a prescription, the select prescription comprising the unfilled prescription or a select similar product or service; communicating, from the customer to the processing unit, the select prescription; the prescriber modifying the unfilled prescription as needed to conform to the select prescription; communicating the modified unfilled prescription information from the processing unit to a plurality of pre-qualified prescription fulfillment providers; conducting a reverse auction in which the pre-qualified prescription fulfillment providers may participate and communicate to the processing unit interactive and iterative bids to fill the modified unfilled prescription, each participating fulfillment provider receiving real-time feedback communications from the processing unit regarding the status and placement of their bids in comparison to other participating fulfillment providers, each participating fulfillment provider having the option of communicating to the processing unit amended bids that include at least one of new, lower prices and ancillary services in competition with the bids of other participating fulfillment providers to entice the customer to select their bid; providing a results communication from the processing unit to the customer, the results communication including details of a final bid of each responding prescription fulfillment provider that made at least one bid to fill the modified unfilled prescription; allowing the customer to select a bid by sending an instruction communication to the processing unit; and checking to see if the fulfillment provider having the selected bid is capable of receiving electronic payment for the selected bid and, in the presence of such capability, providing the customer with a process for electronic payment of funds due for the selected bid, the communications between the customer and the processing unit and the communications between the processing unit and the fulfillment providers being accomplished using input/output devices at each of the customer, processing unit and fulfillment providers.