Which 2011 incentive will YOU claim?

Perhaps you worked hard in 2011 to demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs and you've already attested. On the other hand, maybe you've chosen a more incremental approach and your goal was just to get started working with EHRs while you focused your efforts on implementing e-prescribing.


Both EHRs and eRX have associated incentive programs but the two are mutually exclusive. Both are related to your billing volume and both are claimed through CMS but you cannot receive both incentives in the same year. 


Demonstrating Meaningful Use is the greater incentive but also the harder of the two. So if you didn't undertake that one, the e-prescribing bonus is a worthy alternative. 


The e-prescribing incentive program is called the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) and you may qualify for the bonus if:

• you're using integrated e-prescribing within your EHR, or
• you're using a standalone or online e-prescribing program independently of an EHR, and 
• you met the required minimum by billing G8553 for at least 25 unique electronic prescribing events

Note: there is no attestation process for MIPPA; it is tracked via the G code included in your Medicare claims submissions.

There are plenty of sources for more information about MIPPA. At EMRlogic, our eRX integration partner is DrFirst. They offer a very nice overview here. I hope you'll go for the carrot but, if you don't, make sure you understand the coming stick!

Alistair Jackson, M.Ed.