ASA Submits Comments to CMS Regarding Electronic Health Record Incentive Program
Chicago —
(March 16, 2010)
Earlier today ASA submitted comments and recommendations to CMS regarding the Agency’s recently proposed rule on the incentive program for the purchase and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs).
In the comments, ASA voiced concern that the Agency’s proposal did not adequately consider the current practice of anesthesiology when defining the term “hospital-based eligible professional,” which would exempt anesthesiologists from having to purchase and meaningful use EHRs or face penalties come 2015. Further, ASA was concerned that the Agency did not properly recognize anesthesiologists’ use of anesthesia-specific EHRs, known as Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) when it developed the meaningful use requirements. By not providing an opportunity for anesthesiologists to meaningfully use AIMS, the proposed rule would make anesthesiologists, who do not meet the threshold to be considered a “hospital-based eligible professional” or who purchase their own AIMS, ineligible to receive incentive payments.
Click here to read ASA’s comments.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Anesthesiologists: Physicians providing the lifeline of modern medicine. Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists is an educational, research and scientific association with 46,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists Web site at www.asahq.org. For patient information, visit LifeLineToModernMedicine.com
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