ATLANTA, March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NDCHealth Corporation , a leading provider of healthcare technology and information solutions, today announced that since its launch six months ago, more than 4,000 independent customers are benefiting from PPE+ for CommunityRx, NDCHealth's newest pharmacy claims editing solution. PPE+ for CommunityRx is designed to help independent pharmacies achieve a greater first time claim acceptance rate while optimizing reimbursement. Nationwide, more than 35,000 pharmacies are now utilizing NDCHealth claims editing solutions.

PPE+ for CommunityRx is a set package of 10 of the most commonly used financial edits offered in NDCHealth's market-leading claims editing service, NDC Pre & Post Editing Services (PPE), combined with NDC RxSafety Advisor(R)*, NDCHealth's proprietary clinical safety edit. In combination, PPE+ performs real-time financial, administrative and clinical review on each claim before and after submission to payers, including:

- checking for current and appropriate reimbursement pricing - identifying generic drug dispensing opportunity - validating prescribers and coding compliance and - identifying potential look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) drug pair errors and atypical pediatric dosing.

According to PPE+ user Andy Bruno, RPh and manager of Bayonne, N.J.-based Jerry's Drug and Surgical, NDCHealth's PPE+ has increased their total pharmacy claim reimbursement rate by approximately 10%.

"The reality of today's business environment is that the majority of claims are paid by third-party payers who set drug reimbursement pricing. The only way a community pharmacy can increase their cash flow is to cut costs or maximize claim reimbursement," said Bruno. "PPE+ helps us to monitor the market for good average pricing for the 20% of cash claims we still handle, but more importantly, it helps to prevent submitting third-party claims that work against us. For example, if we submit an obsolete NDC#, PPE+ will reject that claim and alert us. Without that alert, we would receive back from the payer only a dispensing fee and nothing for the cost of the drug. This service has been an excellent tool for us to save and make money."

Independent pharmacies that utilize PPE+ also gain efficiencies by accessing an online Executive Summary Report. The report outlines additional and potential revenue opportunities. By using this report a customer can validate its return on investment.

PPE+ builds upon the market success of PPE, a flexible claims editing solution. PPE customers include national pharmacy chains, which typically choose among PPE edits to tailor their editing package to their internal business needs.

"By leveraging the broad and real-time connectivity of the NDCHealth Intelligent Network and staying close to our customers, NDCHealth remains the market leader in pharmacy network solutions," said Walter Hoff, chairman and CEO, NDCHealth. "We understand the unique business needs of independent pharmacists, many of whom manage and own their business. This package of edits is yet another example of how our company continues to develop and offer innovative solutions that support our customers in achieving their business goals and deliver quality healthcare."

About the NDCHealth Intelligent Network

The NDCHealth Intelligent Network is one of North America's largest and most reliable electronic healthcare transaction networks. It processes more than 5.0 billion healthcare transactions annually, and more than 48% of all electronic healthcare claims in the United States.

About NDCHealth

NDCHealth is a leading information solutions company serving all sectors of healthcare. Its network solutions have long been among the nation's leading, automating the exchange of information among pharmacies, payers, hospitals and physicians. Its systems and information management solutions help improve operational efficiencies and business decision making for providers, retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Headquartered at Atlanta, Ga., NDCHealth provides information vital to the delivery of healthcare every day. For more information, visit http://www.ndchealth.com/ .

NDCHealth and NDC are registered trademarks of NDCHealth Corporation. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of the company.

*U.S. Patent Pending

CONTACT: Robin Wrinn of NDCHealth Corporation, +1-404-728-2214, or
robin.wrinn@ndchealth.com

Web site: http://www.ndchealth.com/