I have to admit...I somewhat expected this to happen...Medicare has extended the date on the banning of computer-generated faxed prescriptions for several years. While I know it's a relief for many prescribers, I have to say, I was somewhat looking forward to it. I thought it would be a great way for many prescribers to "take the plunge" and begin sending more prescriptions electronically. Of course, I'm a huge fan of e-prescribging.

So what is Medicare doing? CMS has extended its deadline for banning faxed prescriptions by three years, moving the Jan. 1, 2009, deadline to Jan. 1, 2012. The deadline change is included in the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule announced by CMS on Oct. 30. According to a CMS press release, the agency reversed its position "in the interest of patient care and safety and to encourage prescribers and dispensers to adopt e-prescribing."

It's not surprising that several health organizations supported changing the deadline. For example, Steven Waldren, MD, director of AAFPs Center for Health Information Technology stated, “The Academy’s position was that the 2009 deadline would force some physicians to move backwards in their efforts to accomplish e-prescribing.” He stated that many EHRs have e-prescribing systems that fax prescriptions instead of sending them electronically.  Dr. Waldren went on to state, “…those physicians would have reverted back to paper-based prescriptions” if the deadline remained the beginning of next year.

The Pharmacy Health Information Exchange, operated by SureScripts-RxHub, maintains that sending prescriptions electronically versus fax is a much safer and more efficient way of sending prescriptions. E-prescribing offers proven benefits to physicians, including reductions in medication errors, reduced calls from pharmacies, electronic access to formulary information and external medication histories. In an effort to get prescribers to send prescriptions electronically, Medicare is offering its prescribers a 2% financial incentive beginning in 2009. If, however, by 2012, prescribers are not using e-prescribing, they will face a 2% pay decrease.

The entire 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule will appear in the Nov. 19 Federal Register.