Trade groups to lawmakers: support overseas transcription

Health Management Technology, May, 2004

A group of health information organizations has urged state lawmakers and Congress to avoid regulatory action that could prohibit or limit outsourcing of medical transcription services to offshore companies. Demand for medical transcription and other health information processing services has grown significantly in recent years, but a critical shortage of skilled workers to handle the workload remains, the trade groups said. As such, some companies are sending work offshore.

The associations advocate increased investment in health information workforce development and adoption of communication technology and new technologies that advance critical healthcare outcomes.

"Legislation prohibiting or encumbering outsourcing would further exacerbate the shortage of health information workers and have a direct and immediate impact on patients and healthcare organizations," said Linda Kloss, executive vice president and CEO of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), one of four groups that recently petitioned lawmakers. AHIMA and the other trade groups fear that such legislation might disrupt the flow of patient healthcare information and payment to healthcare providers. The California Health Information Association, the American Association for Medical Transcription and the Medical Transcription Indus try Alliance have joined AHIMA's efforts.