On November 2, 2021, CMS published its Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. Among the finalized provisions in the final rule, enforcement for electronic prescribing of controlled substances (ePCS) for Medicare Part D beneficiaries has been delayed until January 1, 2023.
CMS is also delaying the start date for compliance actions for Part D prescriptions written for beneficiaries in long-term care facilities to January 1, 2025. CMS will initially enforce compliance by sending compliance letters to prescribers violating the ePCS mandate.
In addition to a new deadline of January 1, 2023, CMS has proposed adding several exceptions to the requirement, including one to exclude prescribers who issue 100 or fewer controlled substances prescriptions for Part D patients per calendar year.
A 2018 law requires CMS to make ePCS mandatory for the Medicare Part D program. Last year, CMS established a January 1, 2022 deadline for this provision (delaying it from January 1, 2021) and named the electronic standard that prescribers must use. CMS is extending the compliance deadline in large part due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Ready to learn more?
Check out the CMS fact sheet.
Also, be sure to join us Thursday, November 18 at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT for our latest Health Reform Simplified Webinar to learn more as our experts will provide guidance on the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule.