Prior to the rule’s release, ASA had asked CMS to consider anesthesiology and adopt a broader definition of anesthesiologists to be excluded from the requirements.
CMS explained its reasoning by stating that anesthesiologists do not interact with patients in a manner conducive to collecting information for meaningful use. They also listed anesthesiology with radiology and pathology as lacking face-to-face patient interaction and needing to follow up frequently with patients.
The exemption is subject to annual renewal, and ASA will continue to work with CMS to come up with a more permanent fix as it begins to address Stage 3.
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