e-Prescribing Initiative
What is e-Prescribing?
Electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) is computer software that allows a clinician to create prescriptions via a PDA (i.e., PalmPilot, Pocket PC device), desktop computer, or cell phone. The e-prescription can be printed and immediately given to the patient, or electronically transmitted directly to the patient’s pharmacy.
Why add e-Prescribing to your practice?
Safety and convenience:
- Medication safety—automated drug interaction checking for new and refill prescriptions.
- Increase practice efficiency—reduces time spent on prescription management.
- Patient convenience—prescriptions can be sent directly to pharmacies.
- Clinician convenience—perform refills or create new prescriptions anywhere you have access to the internet.
Save time and money:
- Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) found that e-prescribing with pharmacy interoperability can significantly reduce the $10,000 spent annually per physician on phone calls with pharmacies related to prescription refills.
- SureScripts found that prescription refill management costs $50,000 a year/per practice and that practices spend on average 4.78 to 4.92 hours/day managing refills. Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) e-Prescribing pilots found that the average time spent per day on renewals was cut in half.
U.S. Government is pressing for e-Prescribing:
H.R. 6331, “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,” was passed on July 15, 2008. It contains the following provisions:
- Physicians for whom services identified represent at least 10% of their Medicare charges are eligible to receive a 2% bonus payment in 2009 and 2010 if they use a qualified e-Prescribing system. The bonus is reduced to 1% in 2011 and 2012, and 0.5% in 2013.
- If physicians for whom these codes represent 10% of their charges do not use e-Prescribing, they will face penalties of -1% in 2012, -1.5% in 2013, and -2% in 2014 and beyond.
- Incentive payments and penalties are based on allowed charges for all covered Medicare services.
- Exceptions will be made for significant hardships (e.g., rural areas without sufficient Internet access).
- The GAO is required to issue a report by September 1, 2012 that includes information on the use and benefits of e-Prescribing.
- Payment bonuses are made after the adoption of a qualified e-Prescribing system, not as an up-front payment to facilitate initial investments.
ACC’s e-Prescribing Initiative
ACC has launched an e-Prescribing Initiative to promote and facilitate adoption of e-Prescribing among its members. For ACC members, the program includes the following:
Guidance and reliable choices:
The ACC Healthcare Technology Department and Informatics Committee have
developed a list of minimum functional criteria recommended for an e-Prescribing
application. The goal of the document is to educate and provide guidance
on e-Prescribing products. Click
here to view the criteria.
ACC relationships with e-Prescribing vendors*:
The following vendor is participating in ACC’s e-Prescribing initiative and has attested that its products meet ACC’s minimum functional criteria. Additionally, as part of the ACC Initiative, the vendor is providing discounts to ACC members.
DrFirst Rcopia—Special DrFirst pricing for ACC members!
*Vendors: Please contact ACC to apply for participation in ACC’s e-Prescribing initiative.
Get Connected Campaign
To provide information and resources about e-Prescribing, and to help physicians begin sending prescriptions to pharmacies electronically, ACC joined the Get Connected e-Prescribing campaign.
View the full press release.
A Clinician's Guide to Electronic Prescribing
The eHealth Initiative (eHI), in collaboration with others, released a "how-to" guide to help clinicians make informed decisions about how and when to transition from paper to electronic prescribing systems.
Want to learn even more about e-Prescribing?
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