New Bill Seeks to Exempt ASCs from Meaningful Use

Congress is considering a new bill that would exempt patient encounters at ambulatory surgery centers from the 50 percent threshold doctors must meet for Meaningful Use regulations. According to Outpatient Surgery magazine, the proposed bill, which is named the Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015, would "remove a major disincentive to provide care in an ASC when appropriate."

If the bill is approved, patient encounters at an ASC will not count toward determining whether a doctor qualifies as a meaningful EHR (electronic health records) user. Because certified EHR technology is not available for ASCs, without the bill, doctors are at a disadvantage for meeting Meaningful Use requirements when they perform outpatient procedures at ASCs.

In addition to helping doctors, the proposed legislation is a plus for ASCs. Along with removing illogical penalties and disincentives for providing care in the outpatient setting, the bill instructs CMS to “work with stakeholders to certify EHR technology for the ASC setting.”

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