Congress may prod doctors toward electronic prescriptions

A broad coalition of corporations, consumer groups, and pharmaceutical providers has moved closer to compelling millions of doctors to file prescriptions electronically. Supporters such as AARP and AT&T have touted electronic prescriptions as an easy, effective way to avoid deadly medication errors and save healthcare providers billions. Under a proposal before the Senate, Doctors in the government's Medicare program would receive bonuses when they use online prescribing software, beginning with 2% increases in 2009. Those who don't adopt the technology by 2011 would see their pay cut 1%, growing to 2% by 2013.