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 computer implemented method of promoting a pharmaceutical comprising:
 identifying a medium with an identifier and, using a computer processor, recording the identifier in a database;   using a computer processor, associating an inactive status with the medium by recording the inactive status in a database, wherein while associated with the inactive status, the medium cannot be redeemed for a pharmaceutical associated with the medium;   using a computer processor, changing the status associated with the medium by recording an active status associated with the medium in the database;   establishing a variable value of the medium, including using the computer processor to associate in the database information about the identifier with financial rules that govern the value of the medium based on redemption information, wherein the redemption information includes patient information, applied upon a redemption of the medium, whereby the value of the medium upon redemption of the medium depends upon the application of the financial rules associated with the identifier, the financial rules being processable by a computer processor to determine the value of the medium in response to an inquiry from a provider of the pharmaceutical, the inquiry including the identifier and the redemption information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient information includes patient insurance information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the redemption information further includes pharmaceutical information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical information includes at least one of a product form, product size and product quantity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the redemption information further includes a location of the provider. 
     
     
         6 . A method of varying a value of a medium that is redeemable for a pharmaceutical prescribed to a patient, the method comprising:
 using a computer processor, recording in a database information regarding an identifier coded on the medium; and   establishing a variable value of the medium, including using the computer processor to associate, in the database, the information about the identifier with financial rules that govern the value of the medium based on redemption information, wherein the redemption information includes patient information, applied upon a redemption of the medium, whereby the value of the medium upon redemption of the medium depends upon the application of the financial rules associated with the identifier coded on the medium, the financial rules being processable by a computer processor to determine the value of the medium in response to an inquiry from a provider of the pharmaceutical, the inquiry including the identifier coded on the medium and the redemption information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the patient information includes patient insurance information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the redemption information further includes pharmaceutical information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the pharmaceutical information includes at least one of a product form, product size and product quantity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the redemption information further includes a location of the provider. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising associating an inactive status with the medium such that while assuming the inactive status the medium may not be redeemed for the pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising recording the inactive status in the database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising changing the status of the medium by recording an active status associated with the medium in the database. 
     
     
         14 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 associating, using a computing station, a plurality of media with a pharmaceutical prescription product in a database, wherein each of the plurality of media is issued for presentation by a different patient;   assigning, using a computing station, an inactive status to each of the media and recording the inactive status of each of the plurality of media in the database, the inactive status of each of the plurality of media indicating that each of the plurality of media may not be redeemed for the pharmaceutical prescription product associated with each of the plurality of media; and   after presentation of one of the plurality of media by a redeeming patient to a provider of the pharmaceutical product, using a computing station to apply a financial rule that determines a value of the one of the presented media and the value is based on the redeeming patient's copayment   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the media are distributed to a plurality of patients who present the media to providers of the pharmaceutical prescription product for the purpose of obtaining the pharmaceutical prescription product associated with the media. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the redeeming patient redeems the one of the plurality of media for the value to be applied against a purchase price of the pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 provisioning the database with criteria for establishing each of a plurality of different potential values for the media.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the criteria for establishing potential values for the media includes copayments owed by patients presenting the media for the pharmaceutical prescription product. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the inactive status is assigned to each of the plurality of media before distribution to a plurality of patients. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising activating, using the computing station, the at least one of the plurality of media by changing a status of the at least one of the plurality of media from the inactive status to an active status and recording the active status of the at least one of the plurality of media in the database. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the value of the one of the plurality of media is based on an identity of the redeeming patient. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the value of the one of the plurality of media is based on an identity of the provider of the pharmaceutical prescription product. 
     
     
         23 . A method implemented by a computing station for facilitating redemption of a medium for a pharmaceutical prescription product, comprising:
 upon a patient presenting the medium to a provider of the pharmaceutical prescription product, receiving information that includes the patient's copayment for the product;   using a computing station, determining value information of the medium based on the patient's copayment by applying one or more financial rules, wherein the medium assumes a value based on the one or more financial rules and the patient's co-payment, and wherein the one or more financial rules are associated with a co-payment program where a pharmaceutical company covers at least a portion of the patient's copayment; and   sending data from a computing station indicating the determined value information of the medium to the provider.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said determining is performed after a status of the medium has been changed in the database from an inactive status to an active status, wherein the medium is not redeemable with an inactive status and is redeemable with an active status. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said determining comprises determining the value information of the medium also based on at least one of a time and location at which the patient is redeeming the medium for the product. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said determining comprises determining the value information of the medium also based on an identity of at least one of the patient and the provider. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the value information includes an amount to be paid by the patient.