Home Forums Discussions Problems Says No Double Dipping

Here comes the clarification:

No double dipping.

If somebody got Erx incentive, it appears no MU incentive
or vice versa.

So if one got ERx incentive why bother struggling with MU?

I am still trying to understand MU per my other post and have not received an ERx incentive.

I wonder who decides what I want to qualify?

http://medicaleconomics.modernmedic...&sk=408578d4fd0685be9e2349f1a7680e71

Well, the eRx from 2010 (which is being paid out now) would not conflict with MU, since MU begins in 2011.

But, if you register for MU this year, you can't get eRx this year, only one or the other.

But you can get the Quality initiative this year with either MU or eRx.

This is not the way I read it. It looks to me like eRX and MU are separate programs that are not mutually exclusive.
From the article above:
According to the FAQ, the Physician Quality Reporting System, eRx incentive program, and EHR incentive program are separate CMS programs, and the Physician Quality Reporting System incentive can be received in concert with participation in any other programs.

But further up in the article it says this:

According to that information, if you receive an incentive under the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, you cannot receive an incentive payment under the eRx incentive program in the same program year, or vice versa. On the other hand, if you earn an incentive under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, you can receive an incentive payment under the eRx incentive program in the same program year.

So, Medical Economics is no clearer than CMS.
From the sounds of things we won't be ready for MU this year anyway since 6.09 is such a disaster.

I believe that John is describing it correctly. Here is a CMS FAQ explaining that:
1. PQRS is entirely separate and you can get it along with others
2. eRx and EHR can NOT be received in the same year (from Medicare; Medicaid EHR is separate).

I think that for Medical Economics to describe it as "double-dipping" is unfair. The inability to receive both incentives is/was a surprise to many, and CMS has been instructed to "clarify and simplify" the programs.

To answer Joseph's question: "if one got ERx incentive why bother struggling with MU?"...your MU incentive would be much higher than the eRx (75% of Medicare receipts with a cap of $18k received vs. 1% in 2011 with no cap).

From CMS website

If participating in the Medicare or Medicare Advantage options for the EHR Incentive Program, eligible professionals can still report the eRx measure but are only eligible to receive one incentive payment. Eligible professionals successfully participating in both programs will receive the EHR incentive.

Makes sense, since the EHR incentive (MU) is more $$$.