Duplicate paperwork, meaningless quality measures and difficult audit and claims processes are among several administrative tasks that prevent providers from focusing on patients, according to a leading advocate. 

LeadingAge recently responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ solicitation for feedback on how to improve its “Patients Over Paperwork” initiative.

The organization reported that burdens from “unnecessary and duplicative assessments, empty quality measures, inadequate health information exchange, inconsistent survey and certification processes, and problematic audit and claims processes” are several issues that keep providers away from patients. 

LeadingAge encouraged CMS to use the examples as a “jumping-off point” to assess and streamline administrative processes. 

“As we evaluated the feedback we receive from members, we identified a theme: Our members are passionate about work that has meaning,” said Jodi Eyigor, LeadingAge’s director for nursing home quality and policy. “Caring for older adults has meaning, but too often our members must take time away from older adults for administrative activities that have no meaning.”