Knowledge Base

Find Answers in the Surescripts Knowledge Base

Browse the Knowledge Base

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z
• Or, view a full list of Knowledge Base Topics

How do I connect to the Surescripts network?

A mutual non-disclosure agreement and contract need to be in place. Then an implementation project is launched between your IT staff and the implementation managers at Surescripts. Industry approved transactions are certified from your system to our network. These transactions include membership loads, formulary loads, eligibility and prescription history transaction sets and electronic prescription transactions if you offer mail order services. Surescripts works with your IT staff to secure your connection to the Surescripts network.

What will this cost me?

There is an initial implementation fee that is charged to the payer that connects to Surescripts. The fee varies and is associated with the level of effort for the implementation project. You will pay a fee when Surescripts receives a request for prescription benefit, uniquely identifies your member and then sends a request for prescription benefit for that member to you. You will not pay for any prescription benefit requests that Surescripts is unable to uniquely identify as your member.

What advantages does a connection to Surescripts offer my membership?

Surescripts is working with the nation's payers to offer physicians the ability to access patient prescription benefit and prescription history information at the time of prescribing. This allows payers to assist prescribers in making more informed clinical decisions and prescribing the most cost-effective medication.

As a result of our ability to identify your members, physicians have more patient-specific information that includes benefit coverage, formulary and prescription history

A connection to Surescripts allows for a secure exchange of patient prescription benefits and medication history information from your data source to certified technology solutions that provide their software to physician practices.

Benefits include:

• Enhanced quality of care
• Increased generic utilization rate
• Greater ability to manage drug spend and trend
• Improved formulary compliance

How many prescribers are connected to Surescripts?

At the end of 2009, more than 156,000 prescribers were actively e-prescribing on the Surescripts network. Surescripts promotes the benefits of e-prescribing to encourage adoption and use. Prescribers who wish to connect to the Surescripts network may find out more by calling 1-866-RxReady (866-797-3239).

How many pharmacies are connected to Surescripts?

At the end of 2009, more than 85% of retail pharmacies in the U.S. were accepting e-prescriptions, and more are connecting every day.  In addition, Surescripts provides access to 6 of the top ten mail order facilities in the United States (representing 70% of prescription mail-order volume).

How many patients can Surescripts provide access to prescription benefit and prescription history information for on behalf of connected Payers?

At the end of 2009, Surescripts was able to provide access to prescription benefit and history information for more than 65 percent of patients in the U.S.