E-Prescribing Medicare Incentive Program

According to The Washington Post, the eHealth2009. An eligible professional must report the
Initiative estimates that only about 2 percent ofe-prescribing quality measure on at least 50 percent of
prescriptions written in the United States areapplicable cases during the reporting year in order to
transmitted electronically. However, Medicare'sbe counted as a successful e prescriber. E-prescribing
E-Prescribing Incentive Program may motivate moreincentive amounts will be 2% of the total estimated
physicians to convert from paper-based prescriptionsallowed charges for professional services covered by
to e-prescribing.Medicare Part B and furnished by an eligible
The Medicare e-prescribing incentive is a new programprofessional during the reporting period (one year). To
authorized under the Medicare Improvements forgo in more detail, the incentive payments will be set at
Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). MIPPA2 percent for 2009 and 2010, 1 percent for 2011 and
authorizes incentive payments for eligible professionals2012, and 0.5 percent for 2013.
who are successful e prescribers.A penalty will arise in 2012 for not successfully
Currently, the e-prescribing incentive program is basedsatisfying e-prescribing requirements (eligible
on one quality measure that is incorporated in theprofessionals who are not "successful e prescribers").
Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). The PQRIThe penalty will result in a percentage reduction in
is a reporting program that provides an incentiveMedicare physician fee schedule payments equal to 1
payment to eligible professionals who report data on apercent for 2012, 1.5 percent for 2013, and 2 percent
selected set of quality measures for coveredfor 2014 and subsequent years.
professional services furnished during the appropriateAn eligible professional does not have to enroll to
reporting period.participate in the E-Prescribing Incentive Program.
The e-prescribing quality measure will be removedFurthermore, an eligible professional does not need to
from the PQRI and will become the quality measureparticipate in PQRI to participate in this incentive
for the E-Prescribing Incentive Program starting 2009.program.
Moreover, this means by next year a physician or anyStarting January 1, 2009, eligible professionals may
other eligible professional could possibly receive twoparticipate in the E-Prescribing Incentive Program by
incentive payments: one under the E-Prescribingsubmitting information required by the e-prescribing
Incentive Program and the other from PQRI. However,measure on their Medicare Part B claims.
specifications for the 2009 e-prescribing incentiveAdditional information on the implementation of the
measures are somewhat different from the 2008E-Prescribing Incentive Program for 2009 can be
PQRI program.found in the final 2009 Medicare Physician Fee
Eligibility will be further restricted by scope of practiceSchedule Final Rule.
to professionals who will have prescribing authority in