Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

Citation
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), Pub. L. No. 108-173, 117 Stat. 2066 (2003).

Overview
The Act provided enhanced prescription drug coverage to seniors under the Medicare program. The MMA requires CMS to develop a uniform set of e-prescribing standards to be used in ambulatory care settings. These standards will be able to support a database of prescribing histories from which information can be obtained and used for evaluation and research. The intent is for e-prescribing to act as a catalyst for significant improvements in patient safety, quality of care, and cost effectiveness. In addition to meeting MMA requirements, e-prescribing standards must be compatible with all other state and federal laws regulating prescribing.