The problem: When providers lack benefit information, patients pay the price
Between 20 and 30 percent of prescriptions are never filled—often because patients are surprised by costs at the pharmacy counter. Meanwhile, the average physician's office performs 45 prior authorizations every week, with 88% of providers saying the administrative burden is "high or extremely high."
The result? Delayed therapy, frustrated care teams, and patients who abandon treatment before it starts.
Health systems need a better way to surface coverage information, communicate costs, and streamline authorizations—all within the clinical workflow.
The solution: Cencora Benefit eServices
Cencora Benefit eServices gives providers the prescription decision support they need at the point of care. The solution combines Eligibility Verification, Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB), and Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA) into a single, integrated workflow—so clinicians can confirm coverage, see patient-specific medication costs, identify covered alternatives, and complete prior authorizations without ever leaving their system.
Getting accurate data requires deep PBM connectivity—and that's exactly what Cencora brings. Our real-time network integrations reach most major PBMs, while our account management team provides hands-on guidance to help you get the most from Eligibility, RTPB, and ePA. We're with you at go-live and every step after.
Eligibility Verification: Know coverage status before the prescription is written
Eligibility Verification confirms patient insurance coverage and benefits in real-time before prescribing begins. Providers can verify coverage details and potential restrictions upfront—preventing prescriptions for medications that won't be covered and reducing downstream surprises for patients.
Key capabilities:
- Verify active insurance coverage in real-time
- Identify potential issues before the prescription leaves the EHR
- Reduce pharmacy callbacks and rejected claims
Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB)
Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB) surfaces accurate, patient-specific benefit data within the prescribing workflow—including out-of-pocket costs, covered alternatives, and PA requirements. Providers can have meaningful cost conversations with patients before they leave the office, reducing abandoned prescriptions and improving medication adherence.
Key capabilities:
- Display patient-specific copay and out-of-pocket costs
- Surface lower-cost therapeutic alternatives covered by the patient's plan
- Flag prior authorization requirements before the prescription is sent
- Enable cost conversations that improve adherence and reduce abandonment
Proven results: Providers who use prescription benefit transparency make changes about 17% of the time—either to save patients money or avoid a prior authorization—resulting in faster, more cost-effective access to medication.
Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA)
Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA) streamlines the PA process by keeping users in the EHR regardless of payer or PA processor. Built-in tools prevent clinicians from starting unnecessary PAs, and when authorization is required, the integrated workflow reduces completion time significantly compared to portal-based processes.
Key capabilities:
- Complete PAs within the EHR—no portal jumping
- Avoid unnecessary PAs with intelligent requirement checks
- Reduce PA turnaround time with automated form population
- Track PA status and communicate across the care team
Proven results: Health systems using Cencora ePA have seen prior authorizations drop by 38% and saved an average of 28 minutes per PA compared to portal-based workflows.
Who it's for
Cencora Benefit eServices is designed for health systems looking to:
- Reduce prescription abandonment and improve medication adherence
- Decrease administrative burden on clinical and pharmacy staff
- Streamline prior authorization workflows across payers
- Improve patient satisfaction with cost transparency at the point of care
- Integrate seamlessly with Epic and other major EHRs
Whether you're a large IDN, academic medical center, or community health system, Benefit eServices helps your care teams make informed prescribing decisions—faster
Why Cencora: Technology backed by partnership
Many health systems have implemented benefit verification or ePA solutions with lackluster results. Gaps in benefit plan coverage, limited PBM connectivity, and lack of ongoing optimization leave value on the table.
Cencora is different. We combine deep PBM integrations with dedicated account management to ensure your Benefit solution delivers measurable results—not just at go-live, but continuously.
- Real-time network connections to all major PBMs
- Seamless EHR integration with Epic and other platforms
- Dedicated account team for implementation and ongoing optimization
- Data-driven insights to maximize solution value over time
- KLAS Points of Light recognition for improving PA efficiency
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What EHR systems does Benefit integrate with? Cencora Benefit eServices is available for Epic and integrates seamlessly into existing prescribing workflows. Contact us to discuss compatibility with other EHR platforms.
2. How does RTPB reduce prescription abandonment? By surfacing patient-specific cost information at the point of prescribing, providers can identify affordability issues and discuss alternatives before the patient leaves the office—rather than having them discover high costs at the pharmacy.
3. Can ePA work with all payers? Yes. Cencora ePA keeps users in a single workflow regardless of the payer or PA processor, eliminating the need to navigate multiple payer portals.
4. How long does implementation take? Implementation timelines vary based on health system size and complexity. Our team works closely with your IT and clinical staff to ensure a smooth go-live and rapid time to value.
5. What kind of ongoing support is available? Every Benefit customer receives a dedicated account management team that provides data-driven guidance, performance reporting, and continuous optimization support.
