GOOD NEWS! – As of September 6, 2011, CMS will give physicians a second chance to use an expanded list of exemptions to avoid a pay decrease of 1% in 2012 for not meeting e-prescribing requirements earlier this year.
Q & A
Did I meet the e-prescribing requirements for 2011?
Physicians will not be penalized or won’t need to apply for exemption if:
- Successfully reported prescribing medicine electronically for their patients during eligible services at least 10 times between January 1 and June 30 in 2011
- OR -
- Reported one of the initial hardship exemptions created by CMS: Those working in areas without high-speed Internet access or pharmacies accepting e-prescriptions.
If I did not meet the requirements above, what do I have to do to avoid the 1% penalty for 2012?
Physicians can try to qualify for one of the significant hardship waivers offered by CMS for the electronic prescribing incentive program by November 1st, 2011. The new exemptions are:
- Registered to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid electronic medical record incentive programs and adopted certified EMR technology.
- Been unable to prescribe electronically due to local, state or federal law or regulation.
- Had limited prescribing activity.
- Had insufficient numbers of eligible patient visits during which to report the e-prescribing measure.
Can HealthTec Software help with any of the new exemptions to avoid the 1% penalty next year?
Yes, HealthTec Software can help. We can assist you to apply for the 1st exemption, with registration and adoption of a certified EMR technology. HealthTec Trilogy is a fully certified EMR system.
Does that mean I have to start using your EMR before November 1st or sometime this year?
No, you do not have to actually start utilizing HealthTec Trilogy EMR before November 1st or even this year to meet the 1st exemption. We can explain how.
Where can I find more information, how to apply for the exemption, the link to the registration for the EMR incentives and information on your EMR?
Resources:
AMA Summary of Changes to Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/09/12/gvl10912.htm
CMS Changes to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-06/pdf/2011-22629.pdf
CMS Exemption Waiver Submission site:
www.qualitynet.org/portal/server.pt/community/communications_support_system/234
CMS EMR Incentives Registration/Attestation site:
https://ehrincentives.cms.gov/hitech/login.action
