Notice: This CMS-approved document has been submitted - Philips ...

CMS-1403-FC
computer-generated facsimile exemption were not modified,
these dispensers would have to revert to paper/phone calls
in instances in which a provider is not able to accept
electronic refill requests utilizing the NCPDP SCRIPT
standard. One chain pharmacy has relayed that moving
forward with the scheduled elimination of the
computer-generated faxing exception to the NCPDP SCRIPT
standard in all instances other than transmission failures
and similar communication problems of temporary or
transient nature would result in approximately 105,000
initial paper facsimiles and 45,000 initial phone
calls/oral scripts per day. They also consider a 2 percent
facsimile failure rate that translates into phone calls, or
approximately 2,100 additional phone calls per day. Ten
percent of all phone calls require a second call back, or
4,710 call backs per day. Therefore, without further
modification of computer-generated facsimiles exception, as
of January 1, 2009 this national drug store chain would
have to make a total of 51,810 additional phone calls for
prescription refill requests per day. They estimate the
cost of reverting to paper facsimiles, including purchasing
fax machines, labor, paper, printing, hardware, and service
costs at over $12.5 million a year. They also estimate the
cost per year of phone calls, including an average of
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