The Information Age Arrives

1950 - Institutional Event

Like many other industries, health care entered the Information Age in the 1950s, using large, costly computers to gain efficiency in time-consuming tasks. The Hospital Care Association switched to computerized claims processing in 1959. Although slow by today’s standards, their room-sized IBM computer worked at lightning speed compared to the manual ledgers and punch cards of the past.

As computer technology advanced, so did claims processing. The first paperless claims were transmitted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in 1983. Over the next 10 years, the number of claims tripled.

The most recent advance was launched in 2006: the ePrescribe program. Now many primary care physicians can send prescriptions to pharmacies wirelessly on PDAs. Special software lets the physician see the patient’s medical history, drug interaction information and generic drug alternatives instantly. So besides saving time, the system can improve prescribing safety and accuracy while reducing drug costs for patients.

Information provided by BCBSNC.

The Hospital Care Association began processing claims with this room-sized IBM computer in 1959. Photo courtesy of IBM Corporation.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina transmitted the first paperless claims in 1983.