The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill that authorizes Medicare to pay bonuses to physicians for using electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) in place of paper prescriptions. This bill applies to the majority of physicians who see Medicare patients; however, there are exceptions (read more).

In 2009 and 2010, physicians who successfully e-prescribe may receive a bonus payment of 2 percent of their overall Medicare reimbursement. The amount will vary depending on the annual allowable Medicare billings. However, in 2011, the reward for e-prescribing will begin to phase out, while the penalty for not e-prescribing begins in 2012.  

To help you get started with moving toward using electronic prescribing, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of North Carolina is offering a one-time $1,000 incentive to BCBS of North Carolina network providers.

This incentive is available to providers who access the medication history for 20 individual patients through a certified e-Prescribe vendor (such as maximEyes by First Insight), between October 1 and December 31, 2008. Incentives will be paid in first quarter 2009. For more information about this e-Prescribe incentive, visit the BCBS website.

CMS Acting Administrator, Kerry Weems, reported that physicians who adopt
e-prescribing technology and participate in PQRI 2009 may qualify to receive Medicare payments that are 4% higher in 2009 — a 2% bonus for
e-prescribing and a 2% bonus for reporting quality measures (read more).

Details of the e-prescribing incentive programs will be outlined this fall in Medicare’s final rule on the 2009 physician fee schedule. CMS will also hold a conference this fall to address issues associated with physicians adopting
e-prescribing technology.