CMS has published a new regulation establishing Part D e-prescribing standards for four types of information. The new rule will go into effect on April 1, 2009. According to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, establishing standards for e-prescribing under Medicare’s prescription drug program will help pave the way for the widespread adoption of e-prescribing throughout the medical community.
This regulation applies to:
- Formulary and benefits: This standard will enable doctors and other prescribers to find out information on what drugs are covered by a Medicare eligible individual’s prescription drug benefit plan
- Medication history: This standard will enable doctors, other providers, as well as dispensers to communicate about prescribed medications a beneficiary has taken or is taking including those prescribed by other providers
- Fill status notification: This standard will enable doctors and other providers to receive an electronic notice from the pharmacy or other dispenser telling them that a patient’s prescription has been picked up, not picked up, or has been partially filled
- Provider identifier: The final rule requires providers, dispensers, and Part D sponsors to use the NPI to identify individual healthcare providers in Part D e-prescribing transactions
For more information, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/EPrescribing.
