Programs QC Learning Community QC E-Newsletter QCLC E-newsletter Spring 2011-Dueling eRx
QCLC E-newsletter Spring 2011-Dueling eRx
Dueling eRx Incentive Programs--and a Ticking Clock!
June 30, 2011, is a crucial deadline to meet the eRx requirements and avoid penalties for eligible Medicare Part B providers.
The CMS-administered Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program and the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program provide incentive payments to eligible Medicare providers who adopt and use health information technology, and--importantly--start to introduce penalties for those who don't.
Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is a well-established quality strategy shown to increase patient safety and lower costs by reducing adverse drug interactions and encouraging prescribing of generic drugs. E-prescribing requires a healthcare provider to use a computer device, sometimes using access to electronic formularies, insurance benefits, and the medication history of the patient. E-prescribing can be implemented as a stand-alone process, or hooked into the provider’s EHR.
A QC Provider Lunch and Learn webinar in April 2011 featured three Maine practitioners addressing the benefits and challenges of e-prescribing. Unanimously, all speakers endorsed the benefits and feasibility of e-prescribing--and gave examples of the process as part of, and outside of use of an EHR. The webinar also provided an update on the CMS eRx program timelines, including penalties for not e-prescribing by June 30, 2011, under the Electronic Prescribing Program. Access the slides from the webinar here.
The two CMS programs that incent e-prescribing have timeframes that slightly overlap. The e-prescribing program provided incentives starting in 2009 and available through 2013 and incentives under the EHR program begin in 2011 and are available through 2016. Providers can only receive incentives from one of these programs in any calendar year.
Each program also imposes penalties on providers who do not e-prescribe, and the timeline for eligible Medicaid Part B provider under the e-prescribing program is right around the corner on June 30, 2011--if the eligible professional has not submitted at least 10 electronic prescriptions during the first six months of calendar year 2011, they may be subject to a penalty of 1% of all Part B covered medical services. CMS issued a Spotlight document that provides information on how providers can avoid the penalties.