AMCP Submits Comments To CMS On E-Prescribing Incentives, Requirements For Recognized Compendia

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 03 Sep 2009 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposed rule addressing changes to Medicare Part B payment policy. Specifically, AMCP commented on incentives for e-prescribing and on the revision of requirements for approved compendia for the determination of medically-accepted indications for off-label uses of drugs and biologics in an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic regimen.

In the letter, submitted Aug. 31, AMCP commended CMS on creating an e-prescribing incentive program to encourage prescribers to adopt e-prescribing technology.

However, the Academy indicated concern that while financial incentives might encourage prescribers to purchase an e-prescribing system, the proposed criteria for the determination of a successful electronic prescriber might be insufficient to ensure that e-prescribing is fully adopted into the prescriber's clinical practice and work flow.

On the revision of requirements for approved compendia, the Academy supported CMS in its plan for amending the current definition of a compendium by defining the components of publicly transparent processes for evaluating therapies and identifying potential conflicts of interests. By adding a definition for "publicly transparent process" for evaluating therapies, CMS proposes to require the establishment of a process that provides for public disclosure of the evidence considered and the review of that evidence leading to the development of recommendations.

While supporting CMS in its move to make the process more transparent for the development of publicly-recognized compendia, the Academy indicated concern that the process not become so burdensome that it discourages important information from being reviewed in addition to the compendia on a timely basis.

AMCP's letter can be found here.

Source
Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy

• Additional
• References
• Citations