Avoid Medicare eRx Penalties—CMS Gives Second Chance (07/05/2011)

Did you miss the June 30 deadline for implementing e-Prescribing (eRx). If so, you were to receive a 1% penalty on all Medicare payments in 2012. It is too late to code 10 visits with G8553, attesting to eRx for those patient encounters.

However, CMS will give you a second chance. If you implement and attest to Meaningful Use of an EMR, in 2011, then you may avoid the eRx penalties altogether. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed just such a revision to the eRx portion of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. If adopted, as is fully expected, then you need full implementation of an EMR certified for Meaningful Use before October 1, 2011. This benefit is in addition to the $44,000 per physician in the EHR Stimulus program.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has been among the medical organizations that have been requesting changes to the eRx program--a program with even more stringent requirements than Meaningful Use many physicians are struggling to meet.

"Eliminating unreasonable penalties and burdensome requirements and providing physicians with more flexibility through an exemption process will help ensure more physicians are able to successfully participate in the e-prescribing incentive program," said AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD, in an interview with American Medical News. "The AMA has continually stressed to CMS that these changes were essential and is pleased to see them become a reality in a rule that will be finalized later this summer."

CMS will accept comments on the proposed changes through July 25. Comments can be submitted:

• Online at www.regulations.gov. Enter keyword CMS-3248-P for the document file code.
• By mail to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Attn: CMS-3248-P, P.O. Box 8013, Baltimore, MD 21244-8013.

Click here to read the CMS Fact Sheet on the proposed rule.