Method of Delivering Goods and Services Via Media

Abstract

A method for distributing a prescription pharmaceutical product includes recording a unique identifier in a database that identifies a medium and a prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium. The database is provisioned with criteria that establish different potential values for the medium. Thus, the medium has a variable value that varies according to the criteria provisioned in the database. A holder of the medium then presents the medium to a provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product. Upon receipt the medium, the provider communicates the unique identifier associated with the medium. Based on the unique identifier of the medium and the variable value criteria provisioned in the database, the value of the medium is determined and communicated to the provider. The holder then utilizes the determined value to purchase the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.

1 . A method for promoting and distributing a prescription pharmaceutical product with a variable value medium comprising:
 associating the prescription pharmaceutical product with the variable value medium;   activating the medium from an inactive status to an active status, wherein while the medium is in the inactive status, the medium is not usable in connection with the purchase of the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium;   identifying the medium with an identifier and recording the identifier in a database such that the identifier is associated with the pharmaceutical product;   assigning value to the variable value medium based on selected conditions and recording the value in the database;   receiving a request from a provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product for authorization to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the activated medium; and   sending authorization to the provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the activated medium and to apply the assigned value of the medium to a purchase price of the prescription pharmaceutical product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected conditions include the manner in which the request for activation is received. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the request for activation may be received through a telephone, an internet network, or a magnetic card reader. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected conditions for assigning value to the variable value medium include a location or an identity of the provider. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected conditions for assigning value to the variable value medium include an identity of the holder. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a request from the provider for confirmation that the medium has an active status. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving confirmation from the provider that the prescription pharmaceutical product was delivered to the holder and updating the database to reflect that the medium was presented to the provider and that the prescription pharmaceutical product was delivered to the holder. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising deactivating the medium by changing the status of the medium from the active status to the inactive status. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein deactivating the medium further comprises deactivating the medium after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising reactivating the medium after the medium has been deactivated. 
     
     
         11 . A method for distributing a prescription pharmaceutical product utilizing media where each medium of the media has associated therewith the prescription pharmaceutical product and a unique identifier that identifies the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium and where the medium includes a variable value that varies according to predetermined criteria and wherein the medium is distributed to a holder who presents the medium to a provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product for the purpose of obtaining the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium, the method including:
 for each medium, recording the unique identifier in a database such that the unique identifier identifies the medium and the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium;   provisioning the database with criteria that establish different potential values for the medium;   in response to the holder presenting the medium to the provider for the purpose of obtaining the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium, receiving a communication from the provider communicating the unique identifier associated with the medium; and   wherein, based on the identifier of the medium and the variable value criteria provisioned in the database, the value of the medium is determined and communicated to the provider whereupon the holder utilizes the determined value to purchase the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each medium initially assumes an inactive state and is unusable for purchasing the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium, and wherein at least one medium is activated and assumes an active state and wherein in the active state the medium is usable for purchasing the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  including recording in the database whether each medium of the media is active or inactive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein before recording the unique identifier of each medium in the database, assigning the unique identifier to each medium and associating the unique identifier of each medium with at least one prescription pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further including assigning an inactive status to the media such that while assuming the inactive status the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the media may not be redeemed or partly redeemed with the medium; recording the inactive status in the database; and activating at least some of the media by changing the status of the media from an inactive state to an active state and recording the change of the status in the database. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising sending authorization to the provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the medium and to apply the determined value of the medium to a purchase price of the prescription pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 before recording the unique identifier of each medium in the database, assigning the unique identifier to each medium and associating the unique identifier of each medium with at least one prescription pharmaceutical product; 
 wherein each medium initially assumes an inactive state and is unusable for purchasing the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium; and 
 wherein at least one medium is activated to assume an active state and is usable for purchasing the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium; and 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising sending authorization to the provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the medium and to apply the determined value of the medium to a purchase price of the prescription pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         19 . A method for promoting and distributing a prescription pharmaceutical product with a variable value medium comprising:
 identifying the variable value medium with an identifier and recording the identifier in a database and associating the identifier with the prescription pharmaceutical product in the database;   provisioning the database with criteria that establishes different potential values for the variable value medium;   activating the medium by recording an active status of the medium in the database;   assigning value to the variable value medium based on the criteria and recording the value in the database;   receiving a request from a provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product for authorization to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the activated medium; and   sending authorization to the provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the activated medium and to apply the assigned value of the medium to a purchase price of the prescription pharmaceutical product.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising receiving confirmation from the provider that the prescription pharmaceutical product was delivered to the holder and updating the database to reflect that the medium was presented to the provider and that the prescription pharmaceutical product was delivered to the holder. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the medium initially assumes an inactive state and is unusable for purchasing the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising receiving a request from the provider of the prescription pharmaceutical product for authorization to deliver the prescription pharmaceutical product to the holder of the medium and to apply the determined value to the purchase price of the prescription pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 issuing the media; and 
 initially assigning an inactive status to the media, and recording the inactive status of the media in the database. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the variable value of the medium is based in part at least on the holder's copayment for the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 11  including varying the value of the medium such that the medium has different values based on the holder's copayment for the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the method of distributing the prescription pharmaceutical product is a part of a program where a pharmaceutical entity pays for at least a portion of the determined value of the medium. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein assigning value to the variable value medium includes assigning a value to the medium that is based on the holder's copayment for the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium such that the value of the medium varies as the holder's copayment for the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium varies. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  wherein assigning value to the variable value medium includes assigning a value to the medium that is based on the holder's copayment for the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium such that the value of the medium varies as the holder's copayment for the prescription pharmaceutical product associated with the medium varies.