Physicians who apply for hardship exemptions from the CMS e-prescribing incentive program are not getting them because of a backlog, according to The American Medical News.
CMS levied a 1 percent fee on physicians who did not use e-prescribing at least 10 times during the first six months of 2011, but offered a hardship exemption for physicians who qualified. However, CMS was unable to process the exemption requests before issuing the 1 percent fee. A CMS spokesperson said it's the responsibility of Medicare contractors to decide if physicians are eligible for the exemption.
The American Medical Association is lobbying CMS to re-evaluate the penalty timelines associated with the government e-prescribing program. The fee CMS charges physicians for not using enough e-prescribing with patient orders will increase to 1.5 percent beginning 2013 and 2 percent by 2014.
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CMS levied a 1 percent fee on physicians who did not use e-prescribing at least 10 times during the first six months of 2011, but offered a hardship exemption for physicians who qualified. However, CMS was unable to process the exemption requests before issuing the 1 percent fee. A CMS spokesperson said it's the responsibility of Medicare contractors to decide if physicians are eligible for the exemption.
The American Medical Association is lobbying CMS to re-evaluate the penalty timelines associated with the government e-prescribing program. The fee CMS charges physicians for not using enough e-prescribing with patient orders will increase to 1.5 percent beginning 2013 and 2 percent by 2014.
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Electronic Prescribing Initiative to Prevent Medication Errors Grows 33%