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redundant layers of security including firewall, encryption, intrusion detection, spyware and anti - virus program.

The NEPSISM aim: Coax physicians and pharmacies to use this free Web-based prescription system, contrary to current e-prescribing system which cost physicians money (About one-fifth of doctors in the USA paid to enroll) to join. Designed to appeal to physicians in solo practice, small groups or healthcare provider with legal authority to prescribe medications, and requires no download, no new hardware, and minimal training. Allscripts and other technology partners of NEPSISM, will not be make money initially, but the vendors see business opportunities down the road, when full featured e-health records are in place. Dr. Nancy Dickey, former president of the American Medical Association said: "Prescribing a way to improve patient safety." New Gingrich, former U.S. representative and founder of the Center for Health Transformation said: "It is clear fact a paper prescription is dangerous."

In 2003, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts established an e-prescription system, attributed to savings of 3 to 3.5 percent of prescriptions. The system defaults to provide physicians the option of lower cost preferred or generic drugs. In 2005, the Massachusetts Blue Cross and Blue shield handled 2.6 million e-prescriptions and more than 2.2 million in the first half of 2006. In 2006, Georgia states Board of Pharmacy regulations legalized electronic prescriptions and became the 47th state to permit electronic prescriptions. Since September 2006, only states that still do not permit e-prescriptions are Alaska, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. (according to Health Data Management 9/22/06).

Physicians interested to register for NEPSISM program can visit the website, http.//www.NationaleRx.com. The national deployment of this system expected to begin sometime in February 2007. The coalitions health benefits sponsors will provide a range of incentives to physicians in their network to join in the use of electronic prescribing technology (NEPSISM).

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