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Physicians' opposition to rating system stalls EHR legislation

EHR Connection, December 3, 2007

Senate leaders are negotiating changes to a health information technology (HIT) bill in what is viewed as an attempt to appease physician groups that oppose language that would create a physician rating system based on federal claims data, according to a November 27 GovernmentExecutive.com article.

The stalled legislation is an effort to jump-start a nationwide EHR program.

John Hedstrom, assistant director of government relations for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Chicago, IL, called the language insufficient, because federal claims data, which includes enrollments and payments, don't allow for adjustment based on patient health conditions and risk factors.

"Claims data in and of itself is just rife with inaccuracies," said Hedstrom. An alliance of 36 physician organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), warned senators that federal claims data will produce an inaccurate rating system. Instead, the alliance favors a system that relies on clinical data already being gathered and used to develop quality measures through a consensus process, such as the AMA's Physician Consortium on Performance Improvement. The consortium has developed 200 quality measures.

Lawmakers want to involve healthcare providers in preparing quality measurement reports to ensure they account for patient risk factors.

Click here to read the Government.Executive.com article.

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