Messages Overview
6 min
message descriptions formulary and benefit data load as requested or scheduled, the pbm/payer sends group level formulary updates to surescripts using the formulary and benefit data load message once the file is retrieved, the provider vendor utilizes the file as a local repository for formulary checks formulary message flow formulary workflow f1) pbm/payer develops and sends surescripts a formulary file f2) after validating the files, surescripts creates a response file for the pbm/payer and loads the files into the database f3) the provider vendor downloads formulary data from the rest api by an automated or manual process note formulary files are an important part of e prescribing and keeping this information up to date is required on a regular basis due to frequent changes customers should refer to current application certification requirements to determine appropriate formulary download frequency customers must ensure adequate bandwidth for download speed as well as off hours process scheduling to download these weekly updates in support of e prescribing general interface description the message specifications have been defined to allow the most effective processing character set the character set contains ascii values 32 – 126, which include character type characters symbols ! " # $ % & ' ( ) + , / ; < = > ? @ \[ \ ] ^ ` { | } numerals ø to 9 letters, upper and lower case a to z, a to z all id data types are case sensitive, including routing ids in the header numeric representation the decimal point is represented by a period and should be used as follows only when there are significant digits to the right of the decimal when there is a digit before and after the decimal point not with whole numbers for example, consider the following possible values for a 5 digit field correct format examples incorrect format examples 2 5 27 0 15 3 00 21 14 file validation surescripts will ensure that customers are in compliance with the message specifications outlined in this guide during implementation and will continue to enforce once in production to validate a file, surescripts validates the sender identification and password validates the recipient identification validates the syntax of the file including field lengths, data types and code values