Medicare to Reimburse Doctors Extra for Electronic Prescriptions
Beginning in January, Medicare will provide incentive payments to physicians who send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically. Benefits of "e-prescribing" include the potential for fewer drug errors and lower administrative costs, according to Health and Human Services officials.
For the first 2 years of the program, physicians who use the technology will receive a 2% increase in Medicare reimbursement rates. The incentive will be 1% during the following 2 years, and 0.5% in 2013.
However, physicians who do not use electronic prescribing by 2012 could see a 1% reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates. That penalty would increase to 2% by 2014, according to the Associated Press.
The AP reports that it costs roughly $3000 per physician to set up the necessary software and equipment.
Health and Human Services press release (Free)
Associated Press story (Free)
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