AMGA Endorses Data-Sharing Provision in Senate HELP Committee Legislation
Discussion Draft Offers Potential to Improve Transparency, Reduce Costs

Alexandria, VA – AMGA today provided the Senate Health, Labor, Education & Pensions (HELP) Committee with recommendations to address rising healthcare costs by continuing to move providers and delivery systems toward value-based care. In comments on the committee’s Lower Health Care Costs discussion draft, AMGA offered detailed insights and comments on how the draft legislation can ensure providers have the tools they need to care for their patients. Specifically, AMGA strongly endorsed the HELP Committee’s commitment to ensuring both providers and patients have access to claims data. Access to claims data from all payers has been a longstanding priority for AMGA and its members.

“Claims data is essential for population health efforts, as well as for providing a level of accountability and transparency in the healthcare system,” said Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A., AMGA president and chief executive officer. “This data helps our providers deliver the best possible care and also will empower patients, who want to be an equal partner in how care decisions are made.”

Requiring that providers have access to data in a standardized format also will reduce unnecessary costs and expenses. Our members report they frequently spend an inordinate amount of time and resources translating data sets from various providers. AMGA is pleased the discussion draft includes a requirement that payers must share data in a single, longitudinal format that spans, when applicable, the previous five years of enrollment in a plan. This data helps providers see how a patient’s condition has progressed and access to it is a key aspect of any population health effort.

AMGA also supports the committee’s effort to address surprise billing that occurs in an emergency care setting. Creating an independent resolution process to resolve any disputes, as featured in the draft legislation, is fair to both payers and providers, while also protecting the patient.

“Providers and payers can come to an agreement without involving the patients, and we look forward to working with the committee on this issue,” Penso said.

The letter is available here.

###

About AMGA
AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of health care in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans.

Advertisement

Media Contact:

Sharon Grace
Chief Communications Officer
703.838.0033 ext. 393
sgrace@amga.org
Advertisement