The NCMS encourages physicians, group practices and other eligible health care professionals to determine if they are subject to the 2012 ePrescribing (eRx) payment adjustment by reviewing the MLN Article SE1107, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). If you believe that you may be subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment, you should determine if you meet any of the hardship exemption categories specified by CMS in the 2011 Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Final Rule. A Quick Reference Guide is available to help you understand the changes that the eRx Final Rule made to the 2011 Medicare eRx Incentive Program.

As a result of changes to the program, eligible professionals and group practices have until November 1, 2011, to submit a significant hardship exemption request and rationale. Individual eligible professionals must submit their hardship exemption requests through the Quality Communications Support Page, and group practices participating under the group practice reporting option (GPRO) must submit hardship exemption requests via a letter to CMS.  Additional information and resources are available at www.cms.gov/erxincentive.