eRx Incentive Program: Significant Hardship Exemption Application Deadline
June 30, 2012 is the deadline for applications for significant hardship exemptions to avoid next year’s penalties for noncompliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) e-Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program. Only those who are eligible for the program need to get significant hardship exemptions to avoid penalties; all ineligible professionals are automatically exempt.
The vast majority of ACR’s members are ineligible for this program and therefore do not need to take any action to avoid the penalties. However, if any ACR members are concerned they may be eligible, they can apply for the significant hardship exemption by following the instructions on CMS’ website.
Any erroneous eligibility determinations by CMS should be contested by contacting CMS’ Help Desk Support.
Note that the eRx Incentive Program is effectively unrelated to the EHR Incentive Program, despite the similar titles and some degree of crossover in the regulatory terminology used in both programs. The eligibility requirements for these two programs are completely different.
