ASA Expresses Support for Changes to Federal HIT Initiative

On May 16, ASA submitted formal comments to key U.S. Senators in response to a recently released report entitled "REBOOT: Re-examining the Strategies Needed to Successfully Adopt Health IT."  ASA highlighted the importance of maintaining the hardship exemption for anesthesiologists.  The comments also emphasized support for Representative Diane Black's (R-TN) legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Electronic Health Records Improvements Act.  The legislation would exempt anesthesiologists from some of the criteria required to demonstrate meaningful use including exempting anesthesiologists from providing clinical summaries to patients; exempting anesthesiologists from being required to provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information; and exempting anesthesiologists and other eligible professionals from implementing drug to drug and drug to allergy interaction checks.

Review ASA's response.Review the Senate Republican report.
Review Rep. Diane Black's legislation.