The Catch: Paperwork

Staffers at U.S. health care organizations say they are filing too many reports and filling out too many forms.

The staffers expect the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) to make the paperwork situation worse, according to Anoto Group A.B., Lund, Sweden.

Anoto, a digital pen company, has published the paperwork overload data in a summary of results from an informal, online survey of nurses, doctors, aides and administrators at hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health care companies and other health care organizations.

A majority of the participants — 64% — said they spend about 25% to 75% of their time on paperwork.

About 80% said they often use paper records, even if their organizations have electronic health record systems, and 78% said they expect PPACA to increase the amount of paperwork they have to deal with.

PLEASE CONFIRM HOW GREAT WE ARE

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is set to speak at 11 a.m. Thursday in Manchester, N.H., to talk about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).

Sebelius “will hear from New Hampshirites who have seen their out-of-pocket costs drop because of the cost-saving measures in the law,” officials say in an event announcement.

Participants will talk about programs such as new PPACA preventive services coverage requirements, the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, Medicare drug discounts, and a requirement that group plans that offer dependent coverage let young adults stay on their parents’ coverage up till age 26.