Posted on 07. Jul, 2011 by rpandit in Hot Coding Topics, Provider News Check whether your group might fall into one of four new categories. The push toward e-prescribing is in full swing, with physicians possibly being subjected to a one percent paym...
Check whether your group might fall into one of four new categories.
The push toward e-prescribing is in full swing, with physicians possibly being subjected to a one percent payment hit on CMS claims in 2012 if you don’t successfully participate in e-prescribing this year (and larger hits in 2013 and 2014). If your physicians haven’t yet met e-prescribing criteria, take hope: CMS has proposed four additional ways that eligible professionals (EPs) can potentially avoid the adjustment in 2012.
The imminent penalty for physicians who don’t e-prescribe “has created quite a bit of concern about circumstances where doctors will potentially be penalized, not necessarily because of failure to electronically prescribe, but more so because of some complexities with regard to the measurement,” said Michael Rapp, MD, JD, director of the quality measurement and health assessment group at CMS, during a May 26 CMS Open Door Forum.
Previously, physicians could apply for a hardship exemption only if they could prove a lack of access to the internet in their area or limited access to pharmacies that accepted electronic prescribing. Under the new proposal, EPs would be eligible to request a hardship exemption that CMS would determine on a case-by-case basis if they meet one of the following additional four criteria, Rapp said.
1. Registering With Intent to Adopt EHR Technology
Practitioners who intend to start participating in the HER (Electronic Health Record) Incentive Program might still be getting their technology in place, so they may not have e-prescribed ten times within the first six months of 2011, as is required to avoid the penalty. The new proposal aims to offer those practices a potential exemption.
2. Prescribing Meds That Legally Cannot Be Electronically Transmitted
Many state, local, or...
Get your system moving before June 30th or you’ll pay the price.
If you do not have an electronic prescribing (ePrescribing or eScribing) system yet in place, or have not integrated one into your electronic medical record (EMR) system, you better get a move on it. You only have until June 30, 2011 to submit at least ten claims to Medicare demonstrating that you are a successful eScriber for 2011. Otherwise, you are at risk of not only losing the bonus in 2011 but according to the rulemaking for 2011, also facing penalties assessed, reducing your Medicare fee schedule by 1 percent in 2012.
With limited time, it is smart to consider a stand-alone internet based system which you can implement relatively easy. You could get this system up and running right away, at a low cost, with simplified a implementation timeline and without depending on your electronic health record (EHR) selection and implementation which is both much more extensive, costly and more complicated to implement.
If you’re still asking, “Can our practice afford not to adopt ePrescribing?” Then, the answer is NO. Today you need to start doing something.
Background: eScribing is part of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) incentive program called the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). PQRS offers incentives to practices that meet CMS-set goals for the implementation and practice of electronic prescription on a regular basis. The system was designed with “a carrot and a stick”. While we have been enjoying the “carrot” for the past few years, the “stick is on the cusp of being implemented as of June 30th per the 2011 Rulemaking. CMS will pay you when you implement eScribing in 2011 (a 1 percent bonus), it will penalize you when you don’t put it into practice, a 1percent penalty...