Overview
The Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program a CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) quality improvement program continuing in 2012 provide the opportunity for incentives for participation. The e-prescribing program offers incentives to clinicians who use a qualified e-prescribing system, as well as penalties for those not reporting use of a system. Participation in the program involves the reporting of designated administrative codes on billing claims. Physicians who successfully participate in this programs in 2012 will be listed on the new public Physician Compare Website. Detailed specifications for this programs are on the CMS E-Prescribing Incentive Page.
The Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program continues in 2012. Clinicians who meet the requirements for being a successful e-prescriber will be eligible for an additional 1% bonus in 2012. Being a successful e-prescriber means reporting 25 instances of electronic prescribing using a qualified system during the course of the calendar year. Physicians who do not demonstrate use of electronic prescribing 10 times in the first 6 months of 2012 will be subject to a 1.5% payment reduction in 2013, and a reduction in 2014 of 2%.
Adoption/ Use of Electronic Medication Prescribing Program
Description: Documents whether the eligible professional has adopted a “qualified” eRx system and the extent of use in care settings defined in the specification’s denominator (see measure specifications for more detail).
The Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Measure includes the psychiatric pharmacologic management procedure code 90862. A psychiatrist using a qualified electronic prescribing system is eligible for the full bonus (1% of all Medicare Part B charges) if s/he reports electronic prescriptions associated with at least 25 unique patient visits over the course of the year, and at least 10% of his/her total estimated Medicare Part B charges derive from procedure codes that are included in the measure (e.g. 90862, 90801, 90802, 90804, 90805, 90806, 90807, 90808, 90809, 99201, etc., see the measure specifications for the full list). An administrative code, G8553, is reported on the claim for an encounter where at least one prescription was generated and transmitted electronically. A physician cannot participate in both the Electronic Prescribing Program and the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.
Links pertaining to Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program:
CMS Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Website
CMS 2012 Electronic Prescribing Made Simple Fact Sheet
CMS Information on Potential Penalties for 2012 and 2013
CMS Information on the 2012 Penalty
AMA Page on the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program
Electronic Prescribing Educational Video