On July 13, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed delaying, once again, the deadline for electronic prescribing of controlled substances (ePCS) for Medicare Part D beneficiaries until 2023, while adding new exceptions to the requirements. The agency included this provision in its annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule, along with numerous other policy changes for Medicare programs and payments in calendar year 2022.
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.
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 drugs per calendar year.
Ready to learn more?
Register today for the next Health Reform Simplified webinar on August 19, 4:00 PM ET, as the NextGen Healthcare regulatory team takes a deep dive into the Medicare PFS proposed rule and what it means for healthcare providers.
In the meantime, read the CMS press release and fact sheet.