The Latest on e-Prescribing

MGMA Connexion — More and more medical groups are adopting electronic prescribing (eprescribing) technology. Writing and transmitting prescriptions electronically, rather than by pen and paper or fax, can help a medical group significantly improve patient safety and simplify administrative processes. Both the public and private sectors have sought to stimulate the implementation of e-prescribing. The federal government has been developing a series of national e-prescribing standards that promote usability and data-sharing among providers, pharmacies and other health care entities. In addition, changes to the Medicare Modernization Act — currently slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2009 — require that all computer generated prescriptions comply with the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs script standard and be transmitted by computer electronically, not via fax.1 More here Electronic Prescription