CalOptima, a health organization serving over 250,000 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families beneficiaries living in Orange County, California, announced that physicians using the ePocrates Rx drug reference guide for Palm OS powered devices will soon be able to download the regional Medi-Cal drug formulary onto their handheld devices.

ePocrates' new application, ePocrates Rx Formulary, will combine CalOptima's formulary information with the clinical data in ePocrates Rx. The companies said having this information will allow physicians to prescribe more effectively by giving them point-of-care access to up-to-date drug information including indication-specific dosing, adverse reactions and drug interactions.

"The volume of information needed to provide state-of-the-art medicine is so large, that it is increasingly difficult for a doctor to practice the highest quality medicine with an 'un-aided' mind," says Greg Buchert, M.D., CalOptima's medical director of pharmaceutical services. "At CalOptima we recognize that checking formularies on handheld devices is far more convenient and up-to-date than checking a paper guide. We are hoping that by partnering with ePocrates, we'll be able to make it easier for our providers to check our formulary."

ePocrates Rx Formulary, the newest application from ePocrates, combines formulary information from CalOptima and other health plans, hospitals, provider organizations and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies with the clinical data in ePocrates Rx. The company said Physicians using ePocrates Rx Formulary will have instant access to formulary drugs covered at lower patient co-pays, prior authorization requirements and quantity limits. Both the clinical and formulary information in ePocrates Rx Formulary is updated every time the physician performs an AutoUpdate.

"Patients always ask me if a medication is covered by their Medicaid card," says Dr. Jane Dye, an ePocrates Rx user. "Since the list of covered medications may change every two to three months, the only way to find out is to phone a pharmacist and ask them. I am usually too busy for such niceties and checking my handheld device is so much easier."

According to the companies involved, nearly 30% of California physicians -- and over 20% of the top prescribing CalOptima doctors -- have already downloaded ePocrates software.