Electronic Prescribing Incentive Programs

ARRA HITECH Act (“Meaningful Use”)

Payment

Medicare EHR Incentive Program

Medicaid EHR Incentive Program
Can participate as soon as the federal program launches Can participate once my state offers the program (check with your state for expected launch date)
Can receive up to $44,000.00 in incentives, and up to $48,400.00 if practicing in a Health Provider Shortage Area Can receive up to $63,750.00 in incentives
Required to demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology every year to qualify for payment Can qualify for payment for adopting, implementing, upgrading or demonstrating meaningful use of certified EHR technology in first participation year. Required to demonstrate meaningful use in each subsequent year to qualify for payment
Must participate by the second year to receive the maximum incentive payment Must participate by 2016 to receive the maximum incentive payment

Source: CMS

Requirements

In 2011, CMS will not be prepared to accept feeds from certified EHRs, so the primary means of demonstrating meaningful use will be via an attestation through a secure CMS website. An attestation is a legally binding representation of the accuracy of the statement. Making a false attestation could be considered fraud under the Medicare/Medicaid programs.

The provider will need to supply the results of each of the measures, as well as the certified EHR in use. Payments will be made on a per eligible provider basis, not by practice. This means each EP will need to demonstrate the full requirements of meaningful use to qualify for the EHR incentive payments

View Stage 1 Meaningful Use Requirements.

Consider an inexpensive modular approach to meeting "Meaningful Use" with Rcopia-MU from award-winning DrFirst.

Rcopia-MU benefits practices and other healthcare providers by allowing them to:

  • Avoid a complete practice or facility overhaul
  • Qualify for up to $18,000 of the incentive payments as early as May 2011
  • Receive the greatest return on investment
  • Minimize the learning curve and workflow changes for staff
  • Invest their return into a completely paperless office or facility, at their own pace

Ready to go 100% paperless?

Check out our ever-expanding list of EMR and other health IT vendor partners!

MIPPA (Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act)

Payment
In 2012, practices who have not adopted e-prescribing will be penalized by a 0.5% decrease in Medicare reimbursements that escalate into a 1.5% penalty in 2014 and beyond until the provider adopts a certified e-prescribing system.

E-prescribing Bonus Payments for MIPPA

Requirements
It’s easy as 1 - 2 - 3 to receive your Medicare incentive dollars by following three easy steps...

  1. Purchase a qualified E-prescribing system like Rcopia from DrFirst
  2. Add G8553 to your Superbill
  3. Bill G8553 for at least 25 unique electronic prescribing events
Because of the well documented cost and safety benefits of e-prescribing, CMS has made recent alterations to the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program to ensure e-prescribing software is adopted by as many eligible professionals as possible. See below for specific changes being implemented for 2010:
  • There is only one G-code (G8553) to show a visit resulted in an e-prescription.
  • Providers are only required to enter the new G-code 25 times during the calendar year.
  • In addition to claims-based reporting, any Registry or EHR which has qualified for 2010 PQRI may be used for reporting.
  • The incentives are now extended to professional services furnished in skilled nursing facilities, domiciliary care, and the home care setting.
PQRI
http://www.cms.gov/pqri/downloads/pqrieprescribingfactsheet.pdf
Testimonials