ePrescribing Essential for Physicians in 2011

This year, ePrescribing will present physicians with both opportunity and risk. ePrescribing activity during 2011 will be the basis for 2012 and 2013 ePrescribing Medicare penalties under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). According to CMS, providers who do not begin ePrescribing and document their activity in their claims submissions using the appropriate G-codes prior to June 30, 2011 may be subject to a -1% payment adjustment on all of their Medicare Part B reimbursements for 2012. CMS is also offering electronic prescribing incentives but it is important to realize that if your providers don’t meet the June 30th deadline, the 1% penalty may also apply.

For timing and payment impact information, please refer to the following CMS document:http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive/Downloads/2011eRxIncentiveProgramUpdatefor2012PaymentAdjustment.pdf

For procedures around claim coding using the G-code procedures, please refer to:http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive/Downloads/Claims-BasedReportingPrinciplesforeRx122209.pdf

In addition, 2011 is the first year that physicians can demonstrate Meaningful Use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). It is also the first year in which eligible professionals who meet Meaningful Use can begin to receive up to $44,000 from Medicare or up to $64,000 from Medicaid over five years. Providers cannot qualify for both Medicare Meaningful Use incentives and electronic prescribing MIPPA incentives.

Emdeon offers a quick to market EHR Lite solution that includes ePrescribing functionality as well as electronic lab orders and reports management. Emdeon Clinician, part of the Emdeon Office Suite, is also a certified EHR Lite that meets Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria and can help eligible providers qualify for government incentives.* This solution is available to Emdeon channel partners to co-brand or implement into their existing software offering. Visit Emdeon’s Meaningful use topic center to view a short video about Meaningful Use and Emdeon Clinician.

To read more about the importance of ePrescribing visit the EMR and HIPAA website. Other MIPPA and Meaningful Use information can be found on the CMS website.

*This Complete EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by an ONC-ATCB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments. Emdeon Inc, 10/22/10, Emdeon Clinician 7.4, 1014201030691,NQF0064/PQRI128, NQF0041/PQRI110, NQF0024, NQF0028, NQF0038, NQF0059/PQRI1,NQF0064/PQRI2, NQF0061/PQRI3.
Emdeon Clinician is not currently certified for Stages 2 and 3 and we do not promise that users will qualify for any particular amount of enhanced payments.

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