CMS to Host National E-Prescribing Conference

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a National E-Prescribing Conference on October 6-7, 2008 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts. 

CMS reports that the conference will serve to educate providers and beneficiary constituencies on the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) e-prescribing program and promote e-prescribing throughout the health care community.  According to CMS, the preliminary agenda for the conference includes topics such as:

• Equip health care professionals with the knowledge and tools to integrate e-prescribing into their business and business model;
• Generate discussion about using e-prescribing and other e-health initiatives to increase patient compliance and overall improved health outcomes;
• Educate health care professionals about the structure and CMS' plans for implementing an incentive payment system in regard to e-prescribing and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative;
• Identify and promote opportunities to overcome barriers to adopt this new technology; and
• Address constituent concerns about privacy, security and risk management in regard to the implementation.

To participate in the conference, registration is required.

Section 132 of the MIPPA provides for CMS to pay incentive payments to physicians for successfully satisfying certain e-prescribing requirements beginning in 2009.  However, the MIPPA provides for the incentive payments to begin phasing out in 2011.  The MIPAA also provides for a penalty to arise in 2012 for not successfully satisfying e-prescribing requirements.