ALERT: AAO Releases Information on Meaningful Use Public Health Measures – Special
Process & Deadline to be Followed for NYC Ophthalmologists
In 2016, all physicians must choose two out of three measure options to fulfill the Public Health
Objective, and may report on Measure Option 3 twice to satisfy the objective. The Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services states that if a physician excludes from one measure, they must
meet or exclude from the remaining measures in order to meet the objective. If the physician
qualifies for multiple exclusions and the remaining number of measures available is less than
two, the physician can meet the objective by meeting the one remaining measure available to
them.
Almost all ophthalmologists are excluded from Measure Option 1: Immunization Registry
Reporting, as ophthalmologists do not administer immunizations. The ophthalmologists in your
state are also excluded from Measure Option 2: Syndromic Surveillance Reporting, because your
state public health agency has not declared readiness to accept syndromic surveillance data from
ophthalmologists in 2016.
The ophthalmologists in New York City can report twice for Measure Option 3 to fulfill the
objective and must take action by February 29. Failure to satisfy the requirements of this
objective can result in an unsuccessful attestation, and a penalty of up to 4 percent in 2018.
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Active engagement with the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s IRIS Registry helps
ophthalmologists to satisfy Measure Option 3, Specialized Registry Reporting. All
ophthalmologist members of the Academy have access to the registry as a free member
benefit. For more information on IRIS Registry, visit www.aao.org/iris-registry, or
contact [email protected].
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Because New York City offers a specialized registry, the ophthalmologists in that area
must also register to participate with the New York City Provider Notifiable Conditions
(PNC) Registry. They must report to both of these registries in order to fulfill the
objective since they are excluded from the first two measures. Contact your state public
health agency for information on how to register. For instructions on how to register,
click on the link here:
http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/hcp/reporting-central-new-user-guide.pdf
In order to meet this measure, the ophthalmologists in New York City must register to participate
with these registries within 60 days of the start of their reporting period, or by February 29, 2016.
The ophthalmologists in the rest of the state can report only to IRIS Registry to fulfill the
objective.
All ophthalmologists are excluded from reporting to a state cancer registry, as CMS has stated
that physicians who did not intend to report to a cancer case registry are not required to engage in
one to meet the specialized registry reporting measure. For questions, contact [email protected].