Several of you have asked recently if eligible
professionals can participate in the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System
("PQRS"), 2011 eRx Incentive Program, and the EHR Incentive Program all
at the same time and earn incentives for each, so we thought we would address
this issue.
To be clear, the PQRS, eRx Incentive Program, and EHR
Incentive Programs are three distinctly separate CMS programs. With regard to
the PQRS, this incentive can be received regardless of an eligible
professional's participation in the other programs.
There are three ways to participate in the EHR Incentive
Program: (1) through Medicare; (2) Medicare Advantage; or (3) Medicaid. If
participating in the EHR Incentive Program through the Medicaid option,
eligible professionals are also able to receive the eRx incentive. If
participating in the Medicare or Medicare Advantage options for the EHR
Incentive Program, eligible professionals must still report the eRx measure to
avoid the penalty but are only eligible to receive one incentive payment.
Eligible professionals successfully participating in both programs will receive
the EHR incentive payment.
Eligible professionals should continue to report the eRx
measure in 2011 even if their practice is also participating in the Medicare or
Medicare Advantage EHR Incentive Program because claims data for the first six
months of 2011 will be analyzed to determine if a 2012 eRx payment adjustment
will apply to the eligible professional.
If an eligible professional successfully generate and
reports electronically prescribing 25 times (at least 10 of which are in the
first 6 months of 2011 and submitted via claims to CMS) for eRx measure
denominator eligible services, (s)he would also be exempt from the 2013 eRx
payment adjustment.
For more information, please see the CMS EHR Incentive
Programs website at: