The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule that establishes additional electronic prescribing standards for Medicare Part D. Prescribers, dispensers and other providers are not required to implement e-prescribing, but those who do must comply with the new standards for Part D covered drugs effective April 1, 2009. The new standards deal with four types of information: formulary and benefits, medication history, fill-status notification, and identification of individual health care providers.

The final rule can be accessed at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/EPrescribing/Downloads/E-Prescribingfinalruleonadditionalstandards.pdf.