AHDPG Applauds House Bill Supporting VA Medical Scribe Project; Scribe Certification
The House passed the VA MISSION Act (S. 2372) by a bipartisan vote of 347-70. This legislative package includes the VA Medical Scribe Pilot Act, a bill co-authored by Walden to help unburden VA doctors by bringing medical scribes into the VA system, which will allow them to see more patients in a timely manner.
“Research in the private sector has shown that allowing medical scribes to handle electronic health records allows the doctor to do what they do best: treat their patients,” Walden said in a speech on the House floor Wednesday. “Chairman Roe joined me in my district last fall on a tour of the VA Clinic in White City, Oregon, where we heard first-hand about the administrative challenges VA doctors face and how that affects their ability to care for veterans. This bill will help.”
“If this bill is approved and the program goes forward, employing Certified Medical Scribes to assist physicians at the VA will undoubtedly improve efficiencies and have the positive effect the bill proponents desire, and more,” said AHDPGTM President and CEO Peter Reilly. “However, in approving the language, AHDPGTM urges that only Certified Medical Scribe Professionals (CMSP) be used in the program. Medical scribes unburden physicians from the administrative burden brought on by todays electronic health record (EHR) systems and increase practice efficiencies in a variety of clinical, non-clinical and administrative ways, but they must be certified. The use of Certified Medical Scribe Professionals will help ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information and data used to effectively capture each patients story.”
The plan introduced by Representative Greg Walden, R-Ore., to improve the care veterans receive at the Veterans Administration is one step closer being sent to the president’s desk. After receiving approval in the House, the VA MISSION Act now heads to the Senate for final approval before being sent to the president’s desk. To read more about Walden’s legislation, click here.
