CMS sets deadline for eRx hardship exemption

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has finalized the rules for the federal e-prescribing incentive program.

The rules include a November 1 deadline for providers to apply for a hardship exemption from e-prescribing requirements, as well as new categories of exemptions to help providers avoid the cuts in payments that are the penalty for not meeting e-prescribing standards. The new exemptions apply to physicians who participate either in the Medicare or Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs who adopt certified EHR technology.

In addition, the rule eliminates the possibility of conflict between the e-prescribing program and the EHR incentive program. Earlier versions of the rule could have forced providers who bought one system for EHRs to buy another to meet the e-prescribing standards.