The American College of Cardiology is separating itself from a number of other physician groups by favoring a mandate for Medicare physicians to adopt electronic prescriptions, Modern Healthcare reports.
ACC said it supports the mandate because it has moved quicker than other physician groups in embracing e-prescribing. Many cardiologists are part of large physician practices that already have adopted the technology, Jack Lewin, CEO of ACC, said.
A Senate Medicare bill likely will include a financial penalty for physicians who do not adopt e-prescribing technology, Modern Healthcare reports.
ACC supports increased reimbursements for e-prescribing rather than cuts. In a recent letter to the Senate Finance Committee, the group urged Congress to set the e-prescribing adherence deadline for Dec. 31, 2011.
“We’ve learned from those early adopters that we’re seeing actual cost savings, in addition to improving patient safety,” Lewin said.
