GAO Encourages Alignment of Reporting for e-Prescribing and EHR Programs - February 24, 2011

On Feb. 17, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on the Electronic Prescribing (e-prescribing) Program and Electronic Health Records (EHR) Program, both administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The report studied the reporting requirements in both programs and found that notable inconsistencies place a burden on physicians. The GAO recommended that CMS undertake a number of measures, including encouraging physicians in the e-prescribing program to adopt certified technology and expediting efforts to remove overlap in reporting requirements.