Deadline for eRx incentive approaching

Physicians and other eligible professionals have until Dec. 31 to report at least 25 successful electronic prescribing (eRx) transactions to earn a 0.5% bonus on total allowed charges for professional services covered by the Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule during 2013.

Submissions can be through claims or approved registry or electronic health record (EHR) systems. Eligible professionals reporting through the Group Practice Reporting Option must meet different defined criteria to earn the bonus, which is based on the size of the group. The eRx incentive is only available to clinicians who do not earn an EHR (meaningful use) incentive in the same year.

Eligible professionals who have not earned the eRx bonus in 2012, or who have not submitted at least 10 successful eRx transactions through claims by June 30, 2013, will be assessed a 2% penalty on their Medicare Part B charges in 2014. This payment adjustment can only be avoided if the eligible professional qualifies for one of the eRx Incentive Program's automatic exemptions or if the eligible professional was recognized as a participant in the Meaningful Use program by June 30, 2013.

More detailed information can be obtained on ACP's Running a Practice webpage.