Incentive payments for 2010 now available

Incentive payments for CMS’ 2010 Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program have begun for eligible professionals who met the criteria for successful reporting. Distribution of 2010 payments is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.

Effective January 2010, CMS revised the way incentive payment information is communicated to eligible professionals receiving electronic remittance advices. CMS has instructed Medicare contractors to use a new indicator, LE, for incentive payments instead of LS. LE will appear on the electronic remittance.

To further clarify the type of incentive payment issued (PQRI or eRx incentive), CMS created a four-digit code to indicate the type of incentive and reporting year. For the 2010 eRx incentive payments, the 4-digit code is RX10. This code will be displayed on the electronic remittance advice along with the LE indicator. For example, eligible professionals will see LE to indicate an incentive payment, along with RX10 to identify that payment as the 2010 eRx incentive payment. The paper remittance advice will read, “This is an eRx incentive payment.” The year will not be included in the paper remittance.

Physicians who have questions about the status of their eRx incentive payments during the distribution timeframe should contact their Provider Contact Center. The Contact Center Directory is available on the CMS website.

The QualityNet Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST at 1-866-288-8912 or via email. The help desk can also assist with program- and measure-specific questions.

A CMS resource is available online to help eligible professionals understand the 2010 eRx incentive payments.