Electronic Prescribers To Be Rewarded

The Chicago Tribune reports that Medicare will financially reward healthcare providers for using electronic prescriptions by paying them at a higher rate. Electronic prescriptions should not only expedite the process for obtaining medication, but they should also reduce the number of medical errors that occur as a result of illegible handwritten prescriptions.

Electronic prescribing equipment represents a significant up-front expense for physicians, so it is hoped that the financial incentives will encourage them to adopt the new technology. If not, payments will be reduced for those who do not adopt e-prescribing before 2012.