In 2009, CMS implemented the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program, which is a program that uses incentive payments and payment adjustments to encourage the use of qualified electronic prescribing systems.
>From calendar year (CY) 2012 through 2014, a payment adjustment that increases >each calendar year will be applied to an eligible professional’s Medicare Part >B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services for not becoming >a successful electronic prescriber. The payment adjustment of 1.0 percent in >2012, 1.5 percent in 2013, and 2.0 percent in 2014 will result in an eligible >professional or group practice participating in the eRx Group Practice >Reporting Option (eRx GPRO) receiving 99.0 percent, 98.5 percent, and 98.0 >percent respectively of their Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) >amount for covered professional services. Avoiding the 2013 eRx Payment Adjustment Individual eligible professionals and CMS-selected group practices participating in eRx GPRO who were not successful electronic prescribers in 2011 can avoid the 2013 eRx payment adjustment by meeting the specified reporting requirements between January 1 and June 30, 2012. 6-month Reporting Requirements to Avoid the 2013 Payment Adjustment: * Individual Eligible Professionals – 10 eRx events via claims * Small eRx GPRO – 625 eRx events via claims * Large eRx GPRO – 2,500 eRx events via claims For more information on individual and eRx GPRO reporting requirements, please review MLN Article SE1206 - 2012 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program: Future Payment Adjustments<http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE1206.pdf>. CMS may exempt individual eligible professionals and group practices participating in eRx GPRO from the 2013 eRx payment adjustment if it is determined that compliance with the requirements for becoming a successful electronic prescriber would result in a significant hardship. Significant Hardships The significant hardship categories are as follows: * The eligible professional is unable to electronically prescribe due to local, state, or federal law, or regulation * The eligible professional has or will prescribe fewer than 100 prescriptions during a 6-month reporting period ( January 1 through June 30, 2012) * The eligible professional practices in a rural area without sufficient high-speed Internet access (G8642) * The eligible professional practices in an area without sufficient available pharmacies for electronic prescribing (G8643) Submitting a Significant Hardship Code or Request To request a significant hardship, individual eligible professionals and group practices participating in eRx GPRO must submit their significant hardship exemption requests through the Quality Reporting Communication Support Page<https://www.qualitynet.org/portal/server.pt/community/communications_support_system/234> (Communications Support Page) on or between March 1 and June 30, 2012. Please remember that CMS will review these requests on a case-by-case basis. All decisions on significant hardship exemption requests will be final. Significant hardships associated with a G-code may be submitted via the Communication Support Page OR on at least one claim during the 2013 eRx payment adjustment reporting period (January 1 through June 30, 2012). If submitting a significant hardship G-code via claims, it is not necessary to request the same hardship through the Communication Support Page. For more information on how to navigate the Communication Support Page<https://www.qualitynet.org/portal/server.pt/community/communications_support_system/234>, please reference the following documents: * Quality Reporting Communication Support Page User Guide<https://www.qualitynet.org/imageserver/pqri/documents/2012_PQRS_eRx%20Communication%20Support%20Page%20User%20Manual.pdf> * Tips for Using the Quality Reporting Communication Support Page<http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ERxIncentive/Downloads/Tips_for_Using_Communication_Support_Page_FINAL.pdf> For additional information and resources, please visit the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program webpage<http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive>. If you have questions regarding the eRx Incentive Program, eRx payment adjustments, or need assistance submitting a hardship exemption request, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at 1-866-288-8912 (TTY 1-877-715-6222) or via [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. They are available Monday through Friday from 7am-7pm CST. ________________________________ If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads//MailingLists_FactSheet.pdf<http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads/MailingLists_FactSheet.pdf> . If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/ContactCMS/index.html). Thank you.
