Electronic prescribing, also known as e-prescribing or "e-Rx,"is a prescriber's ability to electronically send an accurate, error-free and understandable prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point-of-care. E-prescribing technologies are often part of an EHR system, but they can also be purchased as a stand-alone system, therefore, you do not need to have an Electronic Health Record (EHR) to e-prescribe. Many times you can download e-prescribing programs from the internet right to your desktop. Some e-prescribing programs are free, and some are not. More information on e-prescribing will be posted to this site in coming days.
Just Released! CMS' Dedicated e_Rx Bonus Incentive Program Web Site 2009 E-Prescribing Bonus Incentive Program Measure Specifications
Medicare's Practical Guide to the E-Prescribing Incentive Program
ASCRS/ASOA members receive exclusive pricing on Noteworthy's ePrescribing application, NetPracticeERX™, which comes pre-loaded with the most commonly prescribed ophthalmic drugs and connects to pharmacies in any location; and NetPracticeRESULTS™, a reports and laboratory management workflow solution that connects physicians with laboratory, radiology,and hospital partners while allowing staff to receive and interact with a patient-centric record of results, reports, referrals and consults. Non-member ophthalmologists may also purchase the e-prescribing solution for a moderate discount. Both products are web-based. Noteworthy's web-based e-Rx solution hasbeen tailored to meet the needs of ophthalmologists in both large and small practices, and those with or without existing electronic health record systems.
To learn more about how you can receive the exclusive pricing on Noteworthy's NetPracticeERX™and NetPracticeRESULTS™solution, visit http://www.noteworthymedical.com/asoa.shtml or contact 877-891-8777 and mention code ASOA.
Slides from the ASCRS/ASOA Hosted E-Rx Audioconference with CMS
From the
Washington Watch Weekly:
ASCRS Participates in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Electronic Prescribing Conference
ASCRS was among the more than 1,400 health care professionals and industry leaders that convened in Boston on October 6 and 7 for the National E-prescribing Conference hosted by CMS and 34 co-sponsoring organizations. The conference addressed the potential of e-prescribing in improving health care in the United States and featured a number of speakers including Department of Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Mike Leavitt, CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, and Health Evolution Partners Chairman and former National Coordinator for Health IT, David Brailer, M.D., Ph.D.
Several breakout sessions discussed the business case for providers to adopting e-Rx technology, how to implement e-Rx in your office and manage the associated changes, as well as reviewed the standards and certification issues surrounding e-Rx systems. Copies of the slide show presentations and other materials from the conference can be found at www.eprescribeconference.com, or by visiting www.ascrs.org/e-Rx.
While the final details have not been released, CMS explained at the conference that to be eligible for the program a provider must have at least 10% of his or her total Medicare Part B billings come from the ambulatory visit codes listed in the denominator of the current PQRI Measure #125. The codes are CPT 90801, 90802, 90804, 90805, 90806, 90807, 90808, 90809, 92002, 92004, 92012, 92014, 96150, 96151, 96152, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99241, 99242, 99243, 99244, 99245, G0101, G0108, and G0109. The denominator codes listed above are subject to change prior to the implementation of the program.
Once a provider has determined if he or she is eligible, the provider would need to report the associated numerator codes on at least 50% of his or her claims for the above noted ambulatory codes. Measure specifications and instructions for reporting on the e-Rx measure, as well as additional information on the e-prescribing bonus incentive program, will be included in the 2009 MPFS final rule and future CMS communications. The secretary has up to December 31, 2008 to make revisions to the measure specifications for the e-prescribing measure.
Please keep in mind that the e-prescribing incentive program will be carried out using a claims-based reporting system, similar to the PQRI program.
As noted previously, ASCRS continues to work on behalf of its members to secure an e-prescribing solution that will assist them with participating in the e-Rx incentive program beginning January 1, 2009. More details will be released shortly.
Phase-In to MandatoryElectronic Prescribing (e-Rx)Included in Public Law 110-275:(H.R. 6331), the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)
As we have been reporting in the ASCRS/ASOA Washington Watch Weekly, the newly enacted law– which prevented the 10.6% reduction on July 1, 2008– also includes several provisions, including the phase-in to mandatory electronic prescribing, which concerned ASCRS. In fact, ASCRS did not endorse this legislation because of these provisions, as well as the funding of the physician payment update provision, which creates a 21% reduction in 2010.
Specifically the phase-in to mandatory electronic prescribing is as follows:
Medicare professionals providing covered services to Medicare beneficiaries and who are successful electronic prescribers will receive an incentive payment of 2% for 2009 and 2010, 1% for 2011 and 2012, and 0.5% for 2013. If eligible physicians do not e-prescribe, penalties of -1% in 2012, -1.5% in 2013, and -2% in 2014 and beyond, are imposed.
Providers who do not have a sufficient volume of qualifying services will be excluded from the program, as will those for whom the Secretary determines that compliance would be a significant hardship (such as for an eligible professional who practices in a rural area without sufficient Internet access). Not later than September 1, 2012, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) will submit a report to Congress on the implementation of the incentives for electronic prescribing established by this section.
In addition, Health and Human Services (HHS) hosted a media briefing on Monday, July 21, 2008, to announce some of its plans for implementing the e-prescribing provisions outlined in MIPPA. According to CMS Administrator Kerry Weems, CMS will host an e-prescribing conference this fall to help physicians and pharmacists connect with the technology they need to make e-prescribing an everyday part of their office transactions. CMS will come out with its plan for making the incentive payments to providers who e-Rx in the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) ruling later this fall. Weems noted that CMS plans to implement the e-Rx provisions via the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) infrastructure and will issue specific guidance on what constitutes e-prescribing and the extent reporting is necessary to comply.During the question and answer session, Weems explained that CMS is required by law to specify PQRI measures through the rulemaking process, and the e-Rx measures that were listed in the recently released 2009 MPFS proposed rule will need to be "tweaked" in the 2009 MPFS final rule to help CMS connect e-Rx adoption to the bonus incentive. Again, reporting on the use of e-Rx will be carried out by using e-Rx measures, beginning in 2009.An HHS fact sheet on e-Rx is available on the ASCRS and ASOA web sites.
ASCRS' Health Information Technology (HIT) Subcommittee, in conjunction with the ASCRS Practice Management Coordinating Committee, is working with multiple e-Rx software providers to gather information and provide a solid solution to ASCRS and ASOA members that will help them adopt e-Rx technology prior to January 2009. In addition to a webinar, which is planned for the coming weeks, a new web site (www.ascrs.org/e-Rx) dedicated to providing up-to-date information on e-Rx, has been developed. Should you have any questions, please contact Emily L. Grahamat 703-591-2220.
Resources one-Rx
Comprehensive List of e-Rx Software Vendors
CMS' National
E-prescribing Conference Materials CMS' e-Rx Web Site
CMS' e-Rx Fact Sheet
The Center for Improving Medication Management
June 2008 Report: "E-Prescribing: Becoming Mainstream Practice"from the eHealth Initiative and the Center for Improving Medication Management(CIMM)
Can your local pharmacy accept an e-Rx?Check here
