WASHINGTON – The Medical Group Management Association, which represents nearly 14,000 large and small physician practices across the country, is giving kudos to  information technology components of the health reform bill passed Saturday by the House.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) passed by a vote of 220 to 215. The Senate now must vote on its own health reform bill. If that bill passes, both chambers would work to forge one bill for a vote by the full Congress.

The House bill includes provisions for administrative simplification, a concept underpinned by the use of health information technology.

"As a long-time leader and advocate of administrative simplification initiatives, we assert that these changes will significantly streamline the administration of healthcare," said William F. Jessee, MD, president and CEO of the MGMA. "These modifications will, quite literally, transform the healthcare delivery process."

Jessee said MGMA member research indicates that rules for the health plan identifier and electronic claims attachment standards, use of standardized machine-readable patient identification cards and enhanced enforcement of health plan compliance, along with uniform companion guides and operating rules for all administrative transactions, will result in significant, long-term savings to the healthcare system.

The MGMA has estimated the savings at $40 billion over 10 years.

"For years we have shared MGMA research and member experiences with policymakers and demonstrated the magnitude of the financial impact caused by these needless administrative burdens," Jessee said.

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