INNOVATIVE PRACTICE FORM

Name: Billy Cox

Address: 25 Midtown Park West, Mobile, AL 36606

Phone: 334-473-5445

Fax: 334-471-4620

Briefly describe innovation

Nuclear Medicine. Making radioactive drugs for diagnostic procedures of all body tissues is what Billy Cox does in his nuclear medicine-oriented pharmacies called Cox Nuclear Pharmacy-Mobile, AL, Inc. Cox has two other pharmacies with corresponding names in Bilouxi, MS and Panama City, FL and another starting in Puerto Rico, Mexico called Caribbean Nuclear Pharmaceuticals. Nuclear medicines are derived from two different drugs that are chemically transformed into one new chemical compound. This compound does not serve as a cure but is used, 95% of the time, to help physicians determine patients' progressive states. Nuclear medicines are used the same way as traditional x-rays. Cox prepares these medicines for three hospitals in Monroeville, AL, Gulf Port, MS and Panama City, FL.

Method of Reimbursement

Payor(s): The hospitals directly pay Cox for each dose.

Reimbursement rate: Approximately 150 simple doses are prepared per day with reimbursement rates of $12-20/dose. For more complex doses as cancer diagnostics, which are prepared two to three times per week, have reimbursement rates of $2,000-3,000/dose.

Is documentation required? No.

Is specialized training required? Yes.
Cox worked as an intern for a nuclear medicine pharmacy and took several courses including radiation physics and radiation safety and eventually became a certified R.Ph. and Radiation Pharmacist.

Is software/instrumentation required? Yes.
Cox uses, in each of his pharmacies, a computer system made by Prisom Technologies which has an average cost of $10,000/system.

Interviewed by: Terri White