The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published the Final Rule, which revises the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) and ONC regulations to implement changes related to electronic prescribing and adoption of health IT standards for HHS use. The Final Rule requires sponsors, prescribers, and dispensers of covered Part D drugs to comply with standards for electronically transmitting prescriptions and prescription-related information.
Key points of the Final Rule include the requirement to exclusively use NCPDP SCRIPT standard version 2023011 by January 1, 2028, and NCPDP F&B standard version 60 by January 1, 2027. Additionally, Part D sponsor real-time benefit tools must comply with the NCPDP RTPB standard version 13 by January 1, 2027. The Final Rule also aligns Part D requirements with HIPAA regulations for eligibility transactions.
These changes aim to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and interoperability of prescription drug benefit programs and electronic health information systems. By setting these standards and deadlines, CMS, ONC, and HHS are working towards a more streamlined and cohesive healthcare system that benefits both providers and patients. Stakeholders in the healthcare industry are encouraged to review the Final Rule and begin preparations for compliance to ensure a smooth transition to the new requirements.
Source
Photo credit www.jdsupra.com
