CMS corrects e-prescribing hardship exemptions Web site

CMS has corrected a problem many have encountered when applying for hardship exemptions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) e-prescribing incentive program penalties through the CMS-designated Web site here. Last week, the Web site did not permit applicants to enter the full 15 digit “certification” number. After this issue was raised, CMS instructed eligible professionals (EPs) to include the complete certification number in the written “justification” text box. The Web site has now been fixed and EPs can resubmit their request in this category and include the 15-digit certification number in the correct box. Read CMS tips for using the site here.

EPs who were unable to meet the program requirements will need to submit a request for a hardship exemption by Nov. 1, 2011 in order to avoid the 1 percent penalty in 2012.

EPs can request an exemption based on one of the following:

• Inability to electronically prescribe due to local, state, or federal law or regulation


• Limited prescribing activity


• Insufficient opportunities to report the electronic prescribing measure


• Practice in a rural area without sufficient high speed internet access


• Practice in an area without sufficient available pharmacies for electronic prescribing


• Registered to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for 2011 and have adopted Certified EHR technology

On that same Web site CMS offers the ability to download Physician Quality Reporting System and E-prescribing Incentive Program feedback reports. In addition, EPs can check if they successfully submitted the minimum number of G-codes on claims from Jan. 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 to avoid the 2012 penalty by requesting the “E-prescribing Payment Adjustment Feedback Report.” While these reports are not yet available, CMS has indicated they will be released sometime in October.

It is recommended that EPs submit their hardship request as soon as possible. CMS has stated that the 1 percent penalty will be applied to all Medicare payments for exemptions that were not approved before Jan. 1, 2012. Once the exemption is approved, these claims would have to be reprocessed.