The AMA, along with dozens of other physician groups, are asking in a nine-page letter for CMS to make more changes to its May 26 e-prescribing (e-Rx) proposed rule.
“While we appreciate the modifications CMS presented in the proposed rule, they don’t go far enough. More changes are needed, including establishing an additional reporting period in 2012 and not applying penalties until 2013,”said former AMA president Cecil Wilson in a news release.
The letter states that requiring providers to e-Rx the year before the penalty program starts in conjunction with not creating enough exemption categories (and scurrying at the last minute to create more), prevent physicians from understanding what their responsibilities and options are to avoid penalties in 2012.
“Physicians are working hard to adopt e-prescribing and other health IT and should not be unfairly penalized for practice patterns that do not fit neatly within the current, limited exemption process,” Wilson said.
On a high note, the letter praises CMS for proposing that certified electronic health record (EHR) systems registered in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs can also be used in e-Rx program.