E-PRESCRIBING RESOURCES

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CMS Launched E-Prescribing Incentive Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched its E-Prescribing Incentive Program on January 1 this year. The sooner you participate in the program, the greater your incentive payment. Conversely, medical practices that are not e-prescribing by 2012 will face cuts.

Medicare’s Practical Guide to the E-Prescribing Incentive Program can help you understand how you can qualify to participate and even how to get financial assistance to implement e-prescribing in your practice.

FREE Online E-Prescribing CME
The Massachusetts Medical Society is providing continuing education for selected presentations from October’s National E-Prescribing Conference through an online education portal. Available credits are a maximum of 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (22.5 AOA Category 2A CME credits). To view or listen to the presentations, and complete an online test on each segment, click here.

CMS Regulatory Changes Could Impact the Way You Prescribe
As of January 1, 2009, all computer generated prescriptions covered by the Medicare Part D program must be transmitted electronically. Even if you already use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system to prepare and submit prescriptions to pharmacies, it is possible that your EMR automatically routes the prescriptions to the pharmacy’s fax machine. These faxed prescriptions will not be in compliance.

E-Prescribing Readiness Assessment
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is participating in a national program to help practices prepare for these new requirements. Visit www.GetRxConnected.com/AOA to complete a quick e-prescribing readiness assessment and instantly get a free, personalized capability report. Don’t have an EMR? The above link also provides guidance on how to evaluate and acquire e-prescribing technology.

Additional Resources
E-prescribing Incentive Program - www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI
Medicare Part D E-Prescribing Standards - www.cms.hhs.gov/eprescribing
A Clinician’s Guide to Electronic Prescribing - www.ehealthinitiative.org