Avoid Medicare eRx Penalties: CMS Gives Second Chance

Did you miss the June 30 deadline for implementing e-Prescribing (eRx)? If so, you were to receive a 1% penalty on all Medicare payments in 2012. It is too late to code 10 visits with G8553, attesting to eRx for those patient encounters.

However, CMS will give you a second chance. If you implement and attest to meaningful use of an EMR in 2011, then you may avoid the penalties altogether. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed just such a revision to the eRx portion of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. If adopted, as is fully expected, then you need full implementation of an EMR certified for Meaningful Use before October 1, 2011. This benefit is in addition to the $44,000 per physician in the EHR Stimulus program.