A new federal rule from HHS that takes effect Oct. 1 is designed to give patients and physicians real-time access to prescription drug costs, insurance coverage details and prior authorization requirements.  The rule, issued by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, will require healthcare providers to use certified health IT systems to electronically submit prior authorization requests, check on drug prices during appointments and share prescription information with pharmacies and insurers, according to a Sept. 2 news release from the agency. 

The change comes after a June roundtable involving HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, Medicare Director Chris Klomp and representatives from major insurers.  Insurers agreed

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