GAO-11-159 Electronic Prescribing: CMS Should Address Inconsistencies in Its Two Incentive Programs That Encourage the Use of Health Information Technology

February 17, 2011 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed two Medicare health information technology incentive programs—the Electronic Prescribing Program and the Electronic Health Records Program. GAO sought to learn how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines which eligible professionals receive incentive payments and avoid penalties from the E-Prescribing program and how many providers received incentive payments in 2009. Also, GAO was asked to examine how the requirements of the two programs compare. GAO recommended that CMS encourage physicians and other providers in the Electronic Prescribing Program to adopt certified technology and expedite efforts to remove the . . .