The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held a special open door forum this week regarding the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program. PQRI incentive payments to providers for 2009 reporting remain delayed and are expected to be paid between the dates of October 25 – November 12, 2010.

According to CMS it is not too late to start participating in the 2010 Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program and potentially qualify to receive a full-year incentive payment. Eligible professionals may begin reporting eRx at any time during the 2010 program year of Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2010. Those who successfully report the eRx measure in 2010 will be eligible to receive an eRx incentive equal to 2% of their total Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule allowed charges for services performed during the reporting period. The eRx Incentive Program is a separate incentive program from the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), with different reporting requirements. To access all available educational resources on the eRx program visit http://www.cms.gov/eRxIncentive/.

You can learn more about both PQRI and the eRx program and view the presentation given by visiting the CMS website at this link: http://www.cms.gov/PQRI/04_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp#TopOfPage.