Government provides incentives to promote e-prescribing

Improvements under Medicare for patients and providers providers Act (MIPPA) implementing e-prescribing programs are eligible for incentives. The offices are in search of medical software to help them implement the program and reap the rewards.
EMR Software

Incentive e-prescription program
In 2003, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) includes provisions for electronic prescriptions. The growing evidence that e-prescriptions reduce medication errors and protect patient safety and medical liability, has prompted many medical offices to make more, but many doctors still rely on paper prescriptions.

This, in part, led to the creation of electronic prescribing, 2009 incentive program to reward providers who use electronic prescribing for their Medicare Part B claims In 2009, a qualified e-prescriptions will be eligible for incentive payments of 2%. The hope is that most if not all seek medical software providers that support electronic prescribing and adopt this system for a growing number of patients. The goal is not only to improve public safety, but to make the submission of Medicare costs more efficiently and save money.

To be eligible for the Program
The requirements to participate in the program are very simple. Medical software used must be able to do the following, quoted directly from the measurement specifications:

To generate a complete active medication list incorporating electronic data received from pharmacies and implementing pharmacy benefit management (PBM) if available
-Select medications, printing prescriptions, electronically transmitting prescriptions, and perform all alerts
-Provide information related to a lower cost, therapeutically appropriate alternatives (if any). (The availability of an electronic prescription system to receive information from tiered form, where appropriate, this requirement is met by the year 2009)
-Provide information on formulary drugs or levels, patient eligibility and authorization requirements received electronically from the patient's drug plan (if available)

In addition, at least 10% of the services of a participating provider for Medicare Part B should consist of specific procedure codes that are listed in the measure. More information can be found in http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive/06_E-Prescribing_Measure.asp

What software is needed?

There are several software options available to medical providers. Many EMR systems include an option for electronic prescribing. The software used does not have to be CCHIT Certified EMR System that allows a number of EMR systems cheaper and free to be considered.

The above guidelines are very basic and almost any electronic prescription system are met. Providers should consult with the producers of software to ensure compliance with requirements. If so, the adoption of new medical software should be done as soon as possible so that the supplier can start earning incentives electronic prescriptions.

Suppliers to adopt these new systems are once they get past the learning curve, the capabilities of the EMR system will allow its offices to operate more efficiently. Easy access to patient records and integration with other EMR vendors will ultimately make the patient's diagnosis and treatment safer and more cost effective.