Last week, the North Carolina Medical Society joined several state and specialty organizations in signing letters to US DHHS Secretary KathLeen Sebelius concerning Medicare-related issues.  Dated December 10, 2010, the letters addressed the 2012 and 2013 Medicare e-prescribing penalty program and unpaid retroactive Medicare payment increases.

The organizations called on Sec. Sebelius to intervene and require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise its policy using e-prescribing activity during the first six months of 2011 as the basis for imposing e-prescribing penalties in 2012 and 2013.  Click here to read the letter.

The second letter urged the Secretary to take the necessary steps to immediately reimburse physicians for payment changes stemming from provisions in the Affordable Care Act.  The changes call for CMS to reimburse physicians retroactive to January 1, 2010.  Click here to read the letter.