Patents Assigned to Express Scripts, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8620830
    Abstract: A computer-based method and system to enable a benefit plan sponsor to design a plurality of benefit plans to be offered to a given participant population and for determining the cost of sponsoring the plans for the participant population by predicting utilization for each of the plans based upon historical utilization data for the population, projected plan selections based upon presumed participant objectives, and/or survey or historical data from a sample of the given population or from preexisting statistical samples exhibiting analogous demographic characteristics to the given participant population relating to expected benefit utilization and plan preference criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Melnick, Agnes Rey-Giraud
  • Patent number: 8600903
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and containers for transporting products, such as medical products are disclosed. The methods and systems involve identifying an environmental condition of a place to where a product is to be shipped, identifying an environmental condition of a place from which the product is to be shipped, identifying the amount of time that the product is expected to be in transit during shipping, and determining the type of container and cooling element that should be employed to transport the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Eller
  • Patent number: 8571297
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20130172778
    Abstract: Methods and systems for medical home testing are described. In one embodiment, the device includes a case member, a plunger member, an accumulator member and a handle member. The case member has a first distal end portion and a first proximal end portion. The first distal end portion has a distal opening and the first proximal end portion has an aperture. The plunger member is sized and configured for sliding through the aperture. The plunger member has a second distal end portion configured to slide within the case member. The accumulator member is disposed in the case member adjacent the plunger member. The accumulator member is compressed by the case member and configured for sliding through the distal opening as the plunger slides through the aperture. The handle member is attached to the accumulator member and extends through the plunger member. Other methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventor: Lauren K. Teschendorf
  • Publication number: 20130173277
    Abstract: Methods and systems for fulfillment gateway are described. In one embodiment, a prescription order for a prescription drug is received from an order processing station. An order message associated with the prescription order is generated. The order message has a prescription parameter and a dispensation preference for fulfilling the prescription order. The order message is assigned to an order fulfillment station based on the prescription parameter, the dispensation preference and a dispensary attribute of the order fulfillment station. In other embodiments, the order message is selected for delivery based on based on the prescription parameter, the dispensation preference and a dispensary attribute of the order fulfillment station. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jonathan W. Joplin
  • Publication number: 20130151281
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing prescription liability are described. In one embodiment, a reimbursement request for filling of a prescription drug on behalf of a worker is received. The reimbursement request is identified as being associated with a claim assumer. A determination that workers' compensation patient eligibility information is available for the worker is made. A modification notification including workers' compensation patient eligibility information associated with the worker is transmitted to a pharmacy administrative device. A replacement reimbursement request for filling of the prescription drug on behalf of the worker is received. The replacement reimbursement request is routed to a benefit manager device based on receipt of the replacement reimbursement request. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventor: Express Scripts, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130103602
    Abstract: A computer-based method and system to enable a benefit plan sponsor to design a plurality of benefit plans to be offered to a given participant population and for determining the cost of sponsoring the plans for the participant population by predicting utilization for each of the plans based upon historical utilization data for the population, projected plan selections based upon presumed participant objectives, and/or survey or historical data from a sample of the given population or from preexisting statistical samples exhibiting analogous demographic characteristics to the given participant population relating to expected benefit utilization and plan preference criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Steve MELNICK, Agnes REY-GIRAUD
  • Publication number: 20130085767
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treatment regimen management are described. In one embodiment, a treatment regimen associated with a user is determined. The treatment regimen includes treatment first treatment component and a second treatment component. The treatment regimen also includes a first treatment schedule associated with the first treatment component and a second treatment schedule associated with the second treatment component. Multiple treatment events are scheduled in an electronic calendar. The treatment events are based upon the first treatment schedule and the second treatment schedule. A treatment alert associated with each of the treatment events is generated. Other methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie T. KULAWIEC, Elizabeth W. TOOLEY
  • Publication number: 20130054258
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pharmacy location are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of pharmacy network associations of a member is determined. The pharmacy network associations are associated with a drug benefit plan of the member. A pharmacy within a pharmacy network association of the plurality of pharmacy network associations is capable of fulfilling a prescription for a prescription drug. A location associated with the member is accessed. A display is generated based on the determination of the pharmacy network associations and the location of the member. The display includes a first indicator and a second indicator. A first network pharmacy of a first pharmacy network association is associated with the first indicator on the display. A second network pharmacy of a second pharmacy network association is associated with the second indicator on the display. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Cohan, Alan T. Shutko, Gary S. Wilcox, Elizabeth T. Cole
  • Publication number: 20130039564
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventor: Express Scripts, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8335695
    Abstract: This invention provides for innovative methods of pricing generic drugs. In a preferred embodiment, wholesale acquisition costs of identified comparable brand drugs for the generic drugs to be priced according to the invention are identified as comparable brand drug values. The comparable brand drug values are averaged to calculate a stable, predictable benchmark value to be used to determine the price of the generic drug, according to methods of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Cedergreen
  • Patent number: 8333053
    Abstract: A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Mahar
  • Publication number: 20120282143
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pharmaceutical compounding are described. In one embodiment a system comprises a solution of a pharmaceutical in an injection vehicle, the solution being contained in a vessel. The system also includes one or more tubes, a filter, and one or more valves. The system presents a sterile environment for compounding the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Marquis, Douglas Lang
  • Patent number: 8295582
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20120173298
    Abstract: Methods and systems for scheduling wellness based meetings are described. In one embodiment, meeting data associated with a meeting is accessed. A meeting type designation is received. The meeting type designation designates the meeting as a walking meeting, a standing meeting, or a sitting meeting. Updated meeting data based on the meeting data and the meeting type designation is stored. Other methods and systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Nease, JR., Katherine Harini Sundararaman, John T. Reid
  • Patent number: 8185413
    Abstract: A computer-based method and system to enable a benefit plan sponsor to design a plurality of benefit plans to be offered to a given participant population and for determining the cost of sponsoring the plans for the participant population by predicting utilization for each of the plans based upon historical utilization data for the population, projected plan selections based upon presumed participant objectives, and/or survey or historical data from a sample of the given population or from preexisting statistical samples exhibiting analogous demographic characteristics to the given participant population relating to expected benefit utilization and plan preference criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Melnick, Agnes Rey-Giraud
  • Patent number: 8160898
    Abstract: Methods for determining whether a drug is a specialty drug, methods for creating tools to be used in making the determination, and the tools themselves are disclosed. The overall value of a drug depends on the drug's attribute values with respect to each of a set of drug attributes (concerning, e.g., the drug's route of administration, targeted disease, possible adverse reactions, risk of toxicity, cost, need for patient compliance with the treatment regime, and handling, preparation, and/or storage requirements. If the overall value or its partial overall values meet certain criteria, the drug is deemed to be a specialty drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmond Weisbart, Andrew Behm, Aimee Tharaldson, Steven Miller
  • Publication number: 20120084097
    Abstract: Methods for determining whether a drug is a specialty drug, methods for creating tools to be used in making the determination, and the tools themselves are disclosed. The overall value of a drug depends on the drug's attribute values with respect to each of a set of drug attributes (concerning, e.g., the drug's route of administration, targeted disease, possible adverse reactions, risk of toxicity, cost, need for patient compliance with the treatment regime, and handling, preparation, and/or storage requirements. If the overall value or its partial overall values meet certain criteria, the drug is deemed to be a specialty drug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Edmond WEISBART, Andrew BEHM, Aimee THARALDSON, Steven MILLER
  • Publication number: 20120073241
    Abstract: A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Mahar
  • Publication number: 20120024878
    Abstract: Various embodiments for a lid for a container are provided. In one embodiment, a lid has a rectangular top with a circular opening, as well as a plurality of protruding flaps extending outward from a side of the rectangular top. The plurality of protruding flaps are sized to be received by corresponding connectors on a container. The lid also has a tubular receptacle affixed to the circular opening, which has a curvature and extends upward and outward from the rectangular top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Kelly, Janice A. Judge, Terry D. LaBlanc