<nobr>Apr 5, 2005</nobr>

ERIC Files Comments with CMS Re: Adoption of Standards for New E-Prescription Drug Program

At ERIC's March 10, 2005 Health Policy Committee meeting, it was decided that ERIC would file comments with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the adoption of standards for the new electronic prescription drug program under the Medicare Modernization Act. The objectives for the proposed regulations are patient safety, quality of care, and efficiencies and cost savings in the delivery of care. In the final Part D rules, CMS mandates that plan sponsors participating in the Part D program support and comply with electronic prescribing.

Attached please find the ERIC comment letter filed on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 and the CMS proposed regulations. In the ERIC letter we discussed 1) privacy and liability, 2) federal preemption, 3) Stark (anti kickback) laws, 4) messaging standards, 5) pilot testing and 6) the lack of a uniform standard for cancellation of refill orders, among other issues. We appreciate all the recommendations and comments received from ERIC members and were able to include this information in our response to the CMS. We will keep you informed of the CMS e-prescribing initiative.

Edwina Rogers
Vice President, Health Policy
The ERISA Industry Committee
1400 L Street, N.W., Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 789-1400
Cell (202) 674-7800
Fax (202) 789-1120
e-mail: erogers@eric.org
www.eric.org

Text Files:

ERIC Comments on E-prescribing

CMS Prescribing Regulations

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