eRx Deadline
A major Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program deadline is approaching for both individual eligible professionals (EPs) and group practices participating in the Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO). If you are an EP or an eRx GPRO participant, you must successfully report as an electronic prescriber before June 30, 2013 or you will experience a payment adjustment in 2014 for professional services covered under Medicare Part B’s Physician Fee Schedule (PFS.)
The 2013 eRx Incentive Program 6-month reporting period (January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013) is the final reporting period available to you if you wish to avoid the 2014 eRx payment adjustment.
If you do not successfully report, a payment adjustment of 2.0% will be applied, and you will receive only 98.0% of your Medicare Part B PFS amount for covered professional services in 2014.
Avoiding the 2014 eRx Payment Adjustment
Individual EPs and eRx GPRO participants who were not successful electronic prescribers in 2012 can avoid 2014 eRx payment adjustment by meeting specified reporting requirements between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013.Below are the 6-month reporting requirements:
- Individual EPs – 10 eRx events via claims
- eRx GPRO of 2-24 EPs – 75 eRx events via claims
- eRx GPRO of 25-99 EPs – 625 eRx events via claims
- eRx GPRO of 100+ EPs – 2,500 eRx events via claims
Exclusions and Hardships Exemptions
Exclusions from the 2014 eRx payment adjustment only apply to certain individual EPs and group practices, and CMS will automatically exclude those individual EPs and group practices who meet the criteria. CMS may exempt individual eligible professionals and group practices participating in eRx GPRO from the 2014 eRx payment adjustment if it is determined that compliance with the requirements for becoming a successful electronic prescriber would result in a significant hardship. Requests for hardship exemptions must be submitted byJune 30, 2013. More information on exclusion criteria and hardship exemption categories can be found on the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program: 2014 Payment Adjustment Fact Sheet.
EHR Incentive Deadlines
July 3, 2013 is last day that eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) in their first year of participation of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program can begin their 90-day reporting period to demonstrate meaningful use for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013. Hospitals in their second and third years of participation must demonstrate meaningful use for the full FY.
Looking Ahead
Three other important dates for eligible hospitals and CAHs include:
- September 30, 2013—Last day of the FY 2013, and the end of the reporting year.
- October 1, 2013—First day of FY 2014, and the start of Stage 2 for hospitals in their third or fourth years of participation.
- November 30, 2013—Last day to register and attest to receive an incentive payment for FY 2013.
See other 2013 important dates in the 2012-2014 Health Information Technology timeline.
