CMS Issues Final Rule on E-Prescribing Standards

CMS recently released a final rule that sets uniform standards for electronic prescribing, under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

The rule does not require physicians, pharmacies and other providers to adopt e-prescribing as a condition of their participation in Medicare. Late last year, Academy EVP Douglas Henley, M.D., spoke out against mandatory e-prescribing, saying that calls for such action were preliminary.

The final rule, which was published in the April 7 Federal Register, (at the Federal Register Web site, enter "Standards for e-prescribing under Medicare Part D" in the search box for 2008 [Volume 73]) goes into effect in April 2009. It establishes standards that cover electronic transmittal of certain information to the prescribing provider and the dispensing pharmacy, including

According to the final rule, the availability of prescription-fill information can help physicians better track patients' adherence to prescribed medication regimens, as well as combat drug fraud and abuse.

The rule also establishes the National Provider Identifier number as a standard for identifying health care providers in e-prescribing transactions.