2009 InterQual(®) Release Introduces First Complete Molecular Diagnostics Criteria and Enables Automated Authorization

“As we bring the latest versions of our criteria and software to market, we are focused on driving efficiencies for payors and providers while expanding into new content areas,” said Tammie Phillips, vice president of InterQual for McKesson Health Solutions. “Even as we address major industry issues with our new auto authorization functionality and molecular diagnostics content, we continue to enhance and add value to the existing elements of our solution suite that have made it the gold standard in evidence-based clinical decision support.”

McKesson’s auto authorization, a hosted, Web-based offering that leverages McKesson’s new Advanced Diagnostics Management solution, is already providing results to health plan customers like John Muir Health and MVP Health Plan. The offering automates the entire authorization process, from the initial request all the way through final authorization. McKesson’s auto authorization capability can incorporate InterQual Molecular Diagnostics Criteria and select Imaging Criteria—and soon selected Procedures Criteria—so that medical appropriateness is determined automatically for most requests. The content plus technology drive reduced administrative costs, better payor-provider relations and support optimal care.

The new InterQual Molecular Diagnostics Criteria is an important innovation included in this release. McKesson is the first vendor to provide a comprehensive set of criteria to support decision-making for molecular diagnostic tests. Growing at a staggering rate, molecular and genetic test volumes have reached 40 million annual tests in the United States and are expected to double to 80 million by 2012. Though this burgeoning field holds great promise, it also presents enormous challenges for both health plans and providers as they try to determine test appropriateness and stay educated about medical necessity and test efficacy. Molecular Diagnostics Criteria is updated quarterly so it is always current.

To help healthcare organizations determine test appropriateness based on clinical evidence, InterQual Molecular Diagnostics Criteria covers over 225 tests that comprise approximately 85% of the costs in this growing area. A new question and answer format leads to service recommendations that include alternative and concurrent tests, allowing users to easily conduct reviews and act on information. In addition, pop-up notes and clinical evidence summaries drive evidence-based medicine to the point of decision-making with more efficiency. The content is available in CareEnhance® Review Manager software as well as McKesson’s Advanced Diagnostics Management solution auto authorization capability.

“Molecular diagnostics is an area that is exploding and is of great concern for health plans and providers,” said Phillips. “Guided by our rigorous clinical development standards, we are tackling this trend by building the most comprehensive set of guidelines for diagnostics. These are critical in helping more efficiently manage these tests now, helping plans build future medical policies and delivering evidence-based knowledge to providers at the point of care.”

About McKesson Corporation

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 18th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and healthcare information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. McKesson is the longest-operating company in healthcare today, marking its 175th anniversary last year. Over the course of its history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.