Are you sitting down? Good. Now take a deep breath and read on…
Beginning January 1, 2016, all hospitals will be required to ePrescribe (eRX) at least 10% of all discharge medications in order to meet the Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements, based on the new PROPOSED rules.
Yes, this means that you will need to implement the NextGen Hospital Solutions eRX module, via NewCrop, before the January 1st 2016 deadline. However, we are here to help and make this transition as smooth as possible! Before you get too worried, let’s look at this changed requirement a little deeper.
On April 30, 2015 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) posted a Proposed Rule that would modify the Meaningful Use EHR Incentive Program in 2015 through 2017. This Proposed Rule should be finalized in late summer 2015. Previously, eRX was one of six possible menu objectives, meaning that facilities had the option to attest using this measure. If you are a facility that has already been using e-Prescribe, you are “good to go” and no system changes are needed. Beginning in 2015, the option to select a menu objective is no longer available. Facilities will be required to attest to a certain set of requirements, with e-Prescribe being one of the requirements. Your facility may be able to claim one of the additional exclusions for e-Prescribing that is available only in 2015.
After 2015, there will be one exclusion for the ePrescribing measure. If you are located more than 10 miles away from a pharmacy that can accept electronic prescriptions, you will not need to attest to this measure. Your NextGen Healthcare Account Manager or Representative may have already contacted you to determine if you fall into this category.
Although 2016 seems far away, it will be here quickly. That’s why we would like to begin to help your facility make this transition within the upcoming months. In addition to the ePrescribe Reference Guide and Training Videos, available on the NextGen Healthcare Knowledge Exchange, we will be offering live webinar presentations to inform you how we get from here to there. Please continue to watch your inbox for emails and additional information in the What’s Next newsletter.
At this point, no action from you or your facility is needed, although reviewing the available free material is advised. Your Account Manager or Representative will reach out to you after the informative webinars to begin contracting discussions. This article is just the first in a series of communications to help you successfully meet this requirement. If you have any questions, please email HospitalEHR@NextGen.com.
Available Resources:
Training Video: Setting Up Users for ePrescribe
Training Video: Using ePrescribe
NextGen Clinicals 2.6 NewCrop ePrescribing Reference Guide
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-08514.pdf – Pages 60 and pages 100 contain more information on ePrescribing requirements