New Position Statement on Health Information Technology
"HIT Sound Off" Podcast Series
Members of the American Academy of Neurology sound off about the health information technologies they use in their practices to help optimize patient management, scanning solutions, electronic prescribing, voice recognition software, and secure online communications. The first two podcasts are dedicated to the 2009 Annual Meeting Digital Demos event on April 27 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., which will feature presentations on smartphones, voice recognition software, scanning solutions, e-prescribing, secure online communication, and personal health records.
New E-Prescribing Incentive for 2009
There is a new incentive program available to eligible professionals who are successful electronic prescribers; the new program supplements the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). Reporting periods for the program are one year in length and the incentive is based on covered professional services by the eligible provider during the reporting year. In addition, under MIPAA, there is a provision that quality measures that can be reported for the purposes of participating in the PQRI cannot include e-Prescribing measures.
CMS has developed a guide to assist eligible professionals in participating in the program.
State-by-State "Dispense as Written" Guide
Some states have specific language that may be different for Medicaid as compared to non-Medicaid patients. Find your respective state's "Dispense as Written" Law in this useful guide.
Since many states do not require a patient's or physician's consent to switch a generic for a brand name drug, be sure you understand the steps you need to take in order to protect your patient's prescription.