ASA Leadership Meets with CMS Administrator Don Berwick, M.D., M.P.P.

On March 2, ASA leadership including President Mark A. Warner, M.D., President-Elect Jerry A. Cohen, M.D., and immediate Past-President Alexander A. Hannenberg, M.D. and ASA staff Ronald Szabat, J.D., LL.M and Jason Byrd J.D. met with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Don Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., and other CMS staff members. During this unique meeting, ASA leadership and staff emphasized ASA’s past leadership on patient safety and expressed ASA’s commitment to continuing to improve patient safety in the future. A large portion of the meeting focused on Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and ASA’s concerns and issues with the current “meaningful use” requirements. Administrator Berwick expressed an openness to addressing the issues anesthesiologists face with the current “meaningful use” EHR requirements. Finally, ASA discussed payment issues and other anesthesia related issues.