In a comment letter submitted to CMS on the proposed rule for Medicare’s 2013 physician fee schedule, the Medical Group Management Association argues that duplicative reporting requirements in Medicare’s electronic prescribing program unfairly penalize physicians who participate in other federal quality reporting initiatives, such as the meaningful use program or the Physician Quality Reporting System, Health Data Managementreports.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
MGMA noted that the federal government has acknowledged the overlap of reporting requirements and has proposed additional e-prescribing exemptions for certain health care providers who participate in the meaningful use program. However, it argued that “this proposal fails to eliminate the burden on providers to fulfill requirements in each separate program” (Goedert, Health Data Management, 9/5).
MGMA said, “As proposed, these new exemptions will require providers to first determine if they are eligible to claim an exemption based on the registration and attestation criteria and time frames set forth in the proposed rule,” adding, “We urge the agency to automatically deem those providers who are participating successfully in meaningful use to have fulfilled both the e-prescribing and PQRS requirements, rather than placing the burden on the provider to claim hardship exemptions to avoid duplicative penalties” (MGMA letter, 9/4).
