CMS has finally confirmed that it will axe the clinical signature requirement rule, as we first reported in Part B News way back in February. The rule, which was set to take effect Jan. 1, 2011, would've required all clinical lab orders to be physically signed by ordering physicians. It was delayed to April 1, 2011 after taking a withering barrage of fire from advocacy groups, particularly the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA).

CMS is putting the finishing touches on its proposed 2012 Physician Fee Schedule and expects to release it "very shortly," in the words of Stewart Streimer, director of the agency's Provider Billing Group. This vague hint was one of the first announcements Streimer made during today's physician open door call.

You've done it -- implemented an electronic health record (EHR) system successfully, met stage 1 meaningful use requirements (all 20 of them!) and even proceeded to have your providers finish attesting using CMS's online system. Where then, is your money? The answers are in the fine print, CMS says in a new addition to its frequently asked questions website on EHR.

Just in time for the deadline, CMS defines the 10% threshold needed to earn the e-prescribing (e-Rx) bonus in the FAQ and updated others, which could put some of your concerns to rest.

Preview: At least 10% of your Medicare Part B allowable charges must be comprised of codes from the CPT/G-codes in the measure's denominator as part of the e-prescribing requirement (NPP 6/27/11).

Most electronic health record (EHR) vendors have a meaningful use "guarantee" -- but the fine print usually specifies that their EHR product has the capability to meet meaningful use and earn you incentive money, if you do your part. But athenahealth (the company name is deliberately lower case, for whatever reason) is trying to stand apart from the pack by offering a more substantive meaningful use guarantee.