Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: I understand that the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule offered changes to e-prescribing making it easier to participate in the program. How do we report eprescribing?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: Currently, to report the e-prescribing measure successfully, you must report one of three numerator G codes (G8443, G8445, G8446) for at least 50 percent of applicable cases. CMS eliminates these codes for 2010.

Effective Jan. 1, you'll report an e-prescribing code only when a visit results in an electronic prescription being placed. You'll need to report this code at least 25 times during the reporting period to be considered a successful electronic prescriber. CMS will issue a new numerator G code with the following descriptor:

• Gxxxx " At least 1 prescription created during the encounter was generated and transmitted electronically using a qualified electronic prescribing system.

Look for the new code in future issues of Pulmonology Coding Alert. CMS will post the code along with the final electronic prescribing measure specifications no later than Dec. 31 at  www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive, according to Kenneth B. Simon, MD, MBA, CMS, senior medical officer, in "Medicare Physician Payment Schedule 2010 Changes and Beyond" at the AMA CPT and RBRVS 2010 Annual Symposium in Chicago.

CMS will also expand the list of denominator codes to include e-prescribing in the domiciliary setting and nursing home setting. You'll be able to report e-prescribing in addition to 90862, 99304-99310, 99315, 99324-99328, 99334-99377, 99341-99345, 99347-99349, and 99350.

Also, if you are part of the PQRI registry or electronic health record reporting mechanism, you'll automatically be enrolled in the e-prescribingprogram.

-- The answers to the Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were provided and reviewed by Alan L. Plummer, MD, professor of medicine in the division of pulmonary, allergy, and critical care at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta; and Carol Pohlig, BSN, RN, CPC, ASC, senior coding and education specialist at the University of Pennsylvania department of medicine in Philadelphia.