Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Payment Adjustments Begin Sun Jan 1, 2012. Are you Affected?

Beginning Sun Jan 1, 2012, eligible professionals who have not successfully met the requirements of the eRx incentive program (or, alternately, qualify for a significant hardship exemption) will be subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment.  The adjustment will reduce Medicare payment rates by 1% of the provider’s allowable Medicare Part B charges. 

CMS would like to remind eligible professionals and group practices that the deadline to request a hardship exemption for the 2012 eRx payment adjustment is Tue Nov 1. 

Eligible professionals and group practices should determine if they are subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment by reviewing the MLN Special Edition Article #SE1107, “2011 Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Update – Future Payment Adjustments.”  If you believe that you may be subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment, you should determine if you meet any of the hardship exemption categories specified by CMS in the 2011 Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Final Rule.  

In addition, a Quick Reference Guide is available to help you understand the changes that the eRx Final Rule made to the 2011 Medicare eRx Incentive Program.  As a result of changes to the program, eligible professionals and group practices have until Tue Nov 1 to submit a significant hardship exemption request and rationale.