In This Issue:

Carrot Or Stick?: E-Prescribing “Incentive” Program - Final Rule Announced; Healthcare Reform News; Reimbursement News; and, Healthcare IT News.

Excerpt from Carrot Or Stick?: E-Prescribing “Incentive” Program - Final Rule Announced

The Medicare Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program (Program) commenced on January 1, 2009. This Program was authorized by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) to provide a combination of incentives and payment adjustments for eligible medical professionals deemed to be “successful electronic prescribers.” Recently, CMS announced the Final Rule regarding incentive payments and penalties for calendar years 2012 to 2014.

“The Carrot”

Under the Program, medical professionals who are “successful electronic prescribers” will receive an incentive payment in the amount of 1.0% for calendar year 2012. In comparison, for calendar year 2013, the “incentive payment” will be reduced to 0.5%, and there will be no “incentive payment” for the 2014 calendar year. These “incentive payments” will be paid to medical professionals above what they would otherwise be entitled to under Part B of Medicare...