This week, a group of six national health care organizations released an updated guide on electronic prescribing systems for health care providers, HealthLeaders Media reports.
The guide -- titled "A Clinician's Guide to Electronic Prescribing" -- was first published in 2008 (Commins, HealthLeaders Media, 4/28).
The organizations that collaborated on the update are the:
- American Academy of Family Physicians;
- American College of Physicians;
- American Medical Association;
- Center for Improving Medication Management;
- e-Health Initiative; and
- Medical Group Management Association (Robeznieks, Modern Physician, 4/26).
Details of the Guide
The updated guide incorporates changes brought about by the federal health reform law, the HITECH Act and a Drug Enforcement Agency rule to allow e-prescribing of controlled substances (Goedert, Health Data Management, 4/27).
The guide provides information on:
- E-prescribing requirements that physicians will face in 2011; and
- How the meaningful use program relates to e-prescribing.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments (HealthLeaders Media, 4/28).