UPDATE: Pending e-Prescribing CMS Rule Changes
CMS is considering changes to the e-Prescribing Rule, which would impose a payment penalty beginning in 2012 for providers who fail to e-prescribe during at least 10 encounters before June 30, 2011.
The proposed CMS rule includes:
- Modification of existing 2011 eRx rule to address technological requirements, i.e., providers using certified EHRs can avoid penalty as well as those using a qualified eRx system.
- Additional significant hardship exemption categories for eligible professionals who:
- Register to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR incentive program and adopt certified EHR technology;
- Have an inability to e-prescribe due to local, state or federal law, i.e., prescribe primarily controlled substances;
- Have limited prescribing activity; or
- Have insufficient opportunities to report e-prescribing due to program limitations, i.e., surgeons/specialists who don?t bill sufficient applicable office E&M codes.
- Extension of the deadline to request significant hardship extension from June 30, 2011, to October 1, 2011.
If you’d like to comment to CMS on these proposed changes, you can do so here and search under “Proposed Rules” for CMS-3248-P; you can then follow a link to post a comment. The deadline for submitting comments on this proposed rule is July 25, 2011.
If you have any questions about the information above, please contact the expert listed below at PYA.
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