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workforce, especially in high-need ar- eas. … Recognizing that outside factors may influence the health outcomes of patients who struggle is an important consideration in adequately reimbursing physicians.” Representative Burgess said thus far


lawmakers have not only solicited feed- back from physicians, patient groups, and other interested parties, but they also have responded with changes that reflect that input. More work still lies ahead, and as lawmakers refine the re- form legislation, “I expect that [collabo- ration] will continue.”


A fleshed out House bill is expected


to emerge by the end of the year. After that, Congress will have to hash out any differences between House and Senate versions of SGR reform. While he could not promise that the legislation would survive the budget bat- tles likely to occur this fall as Congress reengages in debates over the national debt and tax reform, Representative Burgess hopes it will provide a robust framework for SGR reform discussions. “In the meantime, we have got biparti- san agreement on a policy going forward that does repeal SGR and does fix some of the problems facing physicians. It streamlines quality reporting and moves it back more into the realm of medicine and out of the realm of bureaucracy, which to me is a big win.”


AMA study: Insurance administrative hassles cost practices


Inaccurate claims processing, prior authorization paperwork, claims deni- als, and payment delays by commercial health insurers continue to impose un- necessary costs on physician practices, says the American Medical Association’s 2013 National Health Insurer Report Card.


The extra administrative tasks to redo claims cost physicians and insurers an average of $2.36 per claim, according


LeichterTxMedAdV3-3-2013-O.indd 1 8/6/13 1:46 PM September 2013 TEXAS MEDICINE 37


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