Part D prescriber enrollment requirement delayed to 2019

CMS has announced it will push back a requirement for prescribers be enrolled in Medicare for Part D to cover their prescriptions, marking at least the fourth time the agency has delayed the rule since it was finalized in March 2014.

“While CMS is committed to the implementation of the prescriber enrollment requirements, CMS also recognizes the need to minimize the impact on the beneficiary population and ensure beneficiaries have access to the care they need,” the agency said in a press release.

Full enforcement of the rule will now begin on Jan. 1, 2019, pushed back from Feb. 1, 2017. Beginning in the second quarter of 2017, however, CMS said it will “begin phasing in targeted enforcement of the regulation, beginning with prescribers who are currently excluded from Medicare by HHS’ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or have a felony conviction within the last 10 years.

Along with the selective enforcement, CMS will also push for prescribers to enroll with an “easy enroll application process” and direct emails to prescribers of Schedule II drugs and, beginning later in 2017, all non-enrolled prescribers.

In the lead-up to the January 1, 2019 full enforcement date, CMS will begin phasing in targeted enforcement of the regulation and undertake the following incremental strategic actions designed to increase on-going prescriber enrollment, while protecting beneficiaries and the Medicare program.