CMS Final Rule on Changes to Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a final rule on changes to the electronic prescribing (eRx) incentive program. The rule states that providers may use either a qualified electronic prescribing system or certified EHR technology to generate electronic prescriptions, in an effort to avoid redundancy between the http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftwo programs, and to prevent providers from having to purchase two separate systems with overlapping capabilities. This change applies to the remainder of the calendar year 2011 reporting period, for the 2011 eRx incentive, and the 2013 eRx payment adjustment. Additionally, the rule provides new significant hardship exemption categories for the 2012 eRx payment adjustment. These categories apply to: providers who have registered for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs; providers unable to electronically prescribe due to local, state, or Federal law or regulations; providers with limited prescribing activity; and providers with insufficient opportunities to report the eRx measure due to denominator limitations. Requests for significant hardship exemptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the deadline for requesting such exemptions has been extended to November 1, 2011.