May 4, 2001

Study Quantifies the Burden of Regulatory Paperwork

Arguing that Medicare providers are increasingly overwhelmed by unnecessary regulatory paperwork, a new Pricewaterhouse Coopers study commissioned by the American Hospital Association (AHA) estimates that every hour of patient care provided to a typical Medicare patient generates an average of about 30 minutes of clinical and administrative documentation. In some settings, such as emergency departments, providers face up to an hour of mandated reporting for every hour of patient care.

According to the study "Patients or Paperwork? The Regulatory Burden Facing America's Hospitals," the administrative burden of regulatory documentation takes time away from patient care-a particularly critical issue for hospitals dealing with staffing shortages and growing levels of employee frustration.

In the study, the AHA proposes several ways to ease the burden, including limiting and standardizing the collection and reporting of post-acute patient assessment data. The AHA also recommends the orderly release and clear communication of new federal regulations, changes in the medical privacy rules, soliciting provider input regarding the potential impact of new requirements, and including the cost of implementing major regulations in Medicare payment updates.

Information: Christiane Mitchell, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0526.