MIPPA incentives linked to e-prescribing use and adoption

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) incentives drove the widespread use and adoption of e-prescribing, according to speakers at the National eHealth Collaborative on Aug. 16.

A retrospective, longitudinal analysis covering 2006-2010 found that the spike in e-prescribing adoption and use was materially impacted by the MIPPA incentive program, according to Seth Joseph, vice president, pharmacy business, Surescripts. As adoption and use numbers rose across all segments, such as small offices and big providers, following MIPPA legislation, “it suggests a large intervention,” he said.

Overall, the number of subscribers jumped from 89,000 to 94,000 from July 2008 to December 2010. The study found that 40 percent are directly attributable to MIPPA incentives. The e-prescriber retention rate also increased during that time period, from 49 to 53 percent while the actual volume of transactions significantly increased, according to Joseph.

Max J. Sow, director of business intelligence, Surescripts, added that providers are using e-prescribing systems in a sustained manner. In a study of 450,000 office-based providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, Surescripts found that the longer prescribers are on the network, the higher the average monthly transactions.

“As time goes by, more and more providers are on the network longer and longer,” he said.

If experience in e-prescribing is any indication, incentives may ultimately drive the adoption of health IT, including EHRs.

“It’s encouraging in terms of Meaningful Use. Once they have technology, they’re using it,” said Michael Furukawa, PhD, director, Office of Economic Analysis, Evaluation and Modeling at the Department of Health of Human Services, on the successful uptake of e-prescribing.

Furukawa also reported that national trends since MU incentives have showed changes in the market. Namely, providers are moving away from the stand-alone experience to moving through their workflow, including exchanging medical information, within the EHR itself. “We are observing a shift in the market from a stand-alone to integrated EHR,” he said.