Message from the ACS - e-Rx Penalty Exemption Applications Due November 1, 2011

On September 6, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Final Rule: Medicare Program—Changes to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program.  The final rule made several key changes to the e-Prescribing program.  The ACS was actively involved responding to the proposed changes to the eRx Incentive Program in order to reflect the concerns of surgeons attempting to comply with the program. We are pleased that CMS took into account many concerns raised by ACS, along with other organizations.  While we continue to believe additional changes should be made to the program, we are encouraged that the current changes will help some surgeons to avoid the eRx penalty.    

In summary, the new changes to the eRx Incentive Program include the addition of 4 new significant hardship exemptions from the 2012 eRx payment adjustment and a deadline extension for requesting a significant hardship exemption until November 1, 2011.  

Please note that these provisions apply to the application of the 2012 e-Rx payment penalty which is based on the performance period of January 1, 2011 – June 30, 2011.  If you are considered an eligible professional, you must submit a hardship exemption request by November 1, 2011.  In order to assist you with the hardship exemption request process, we are providing a step-by-step guidance document that explains how to apply to for the hardship exemption http://www.facs.org/ahp/erx-exemption.pdf.

For more information on the Medicare e-Prescribing program and whether you are an eligible professional, please see the e-Prescribing article from the June issue of the American College of Surgeons Bulletin at: http://www.facs.org/ahp/pubs/whatsurg0611.pdf or contact the ACS Washington Office at 202-337-2701 or ahp@facs.org.   

For additional information from CMS on the e-Prescribing program, please see http://www.cms.gov/erxincentive/.  

For a copy of the Final Rule, please visit:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-06/pdf/2011-22629.pdf.     

Sincerely,  

Carlos Pellegrini, MD, FACS, Chair, Board of Regents
L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, FACS, President, American College of Surgeons
Andrew Warshaw, MD, FACS, Chair, Health Policy and Advocacy Group
David Hoyt, MD, FACS, Executive Director, American College of Surgeons