The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided new guidance that clarifies the eligibility of certain radiologists for the "significant hardship" exception added in stage 2 of its meaningful use IT incentive program.
The stage 2 final rule published in September established options for eligible professionals who might experience significant hardship in adopting healthcare IT to avoid the Medicare payment penalties set to begin in 2015. These exception options are available for any physician whose primary specialty was listed in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) as radiology, anesthesiology, or pathology.
However, there is no single PECOS specialty code for the whole of radiology, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR). In its new guidance released on Tuesday, CMS has defined "radiology" as the PECOS medical specialty codes for diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, and nuclear medicine. Physicians in any of these three radiology subspecialties can now opt for this specialty-based significant hardship exception, according to ACR.
While radiation oncology was also considered, it was ultimately not included, ACR said. Certain radiation oncologists, though, will still be able to apply for one of the other significant hardship exceptions by July 2014 to avoid penalties in 2015, ACR said.
The guidance is available by clicking here.
