A recent survey has illustrated just how onerous the various federal regulations of healthcare have become.
If you’re feeling extra productive and accomplished this morning and want to bring yourself back to dismal reality, take a look at the regulatory dashboard on the website of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
The dashboard shows, in real time, the number of federal regulations in their last phase of review at the White House, getting ready for a stamp of approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before being published in the Federal Register.
There are a total of about 100 federal regulatory agencies, but only about 15 agencies that we really hear about – and those are the agencies with representatives who sit on the president’s cabinet.
OIRA’s regulatory dashboard also gives a snapshot of the top 10 agencies that are putting out the most regulations at any given time.
Almost without fail, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the most regulations that are about to be approved, and usually by a long shot.
Last night, for instance, because I needed something to go with my Chianti and my overall sense of angst, I visited OIRA’s regulatory dashboard and found that HHS has 30 regulations waiting to be published. That’s three times the number of regulations expected to come out of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the dashboard’s second-place winner. And HHS has more regulations in waiting than the bottom five finishers combined, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Energy.
To say that healthcare is the most regulated industry is an understatement.
A 2021 American Hospital Association (AHA) Study concluded that health systems, hospitals, and post-acute providers spend nearly $40 billion a year on activities related to regulatory compliance. That equates to an average cost of $1,200 per patient, or nearly $50,000 per hospital bed, per year.
Data from 2017 showed that health systems and hospitals must comply with 629 discrete regulatory requirements – and that was in 2017. Imagine what it is now, in the wake of the No Surprises Act and its transparency requirements.
Which brings us to last week, when the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) published the results of its annual survey on regulatory burden. Of the 500 group practices that were surveyed, nearly 9 in 10 reported that the regulatory load on their business had increased over the past year.
The biggest reported burdens this year were prior authorization and the surprise billing and good-faith estimate requirements. More than 80 percent indicated that obtaining prior authorization was very or extremely onerous, with 95 percent of respondents stating that patients had faced delays or denials for medical care because of prior authorization. More than 70 percent struggled with surprise billing and good-faith estimates.
Other findings from the MGMA survey include the following:
On the bright side, a whole 1 percent of the 500 surveyed thought that the regulatory burden had actually declined over the past 12 months.
I want to offer my humble apologies to anyone whose day I’ve ruined.
Programming note: Listen to the Monitor Mondays Legislative Update with Matthew Albright, sponsored by Zelis, Mondays on Monitor Mondays at 10 Est.
Given the vast quantity of information published by the federal government, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), consultants, and others, it can be easy to lose track
Recent updates to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) represent the most significant shift in healthcare privacy and security requirements in over a
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Uncover essential coding insights with nationally recognized coding authority Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS. Through ICD10monitor’s interactive, on‑demand webcast series, Kay walks you through the AHA’s 2026 ICD‑10‑CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics, translating each update into practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance designed to sharpen precision, ensure compliance, and strengthen day‑to‑day decision‑making. Available shortly after each official release.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s third quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s second quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Federal auditors are intensifying their focus on inpatient psychiatric facilities, using advanced data analytics to spotlight outliers and pursue high‑dollar repayments. In this high‑impact webcast, Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, Compliance Officer and V.P., Hospital & Physician Compliance, breaks down what regulators are really targeting in IPF-PPS admissions, documentation, treatment and discharge planning. Attendees will learn practical steps to tighten processes, avoid common audit triggers and protect reimbursement and reduce the risk of multimillion-dollar repayment demands.
In this timely session, Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, CPEDC, COPC, breaks down the complexities of Medical Decision Making (MDM) documentation so providers can confidently capture the true complexity of their care. Attendees will learn practical, efficient strategies to ensure documentation aligns with current E/M guidelines, supports accurate coding, and reduces audit risk, all without adding to charting time.
Join Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM for The PEPPER Returns – Risk and Opportunity at Your Fingertips, a practical webcast that demystifies the PEPPER and shows you how to turn complex claims data into actionable insights. Dr. Hirsch will explain how to interpret key measures, identify compliance risks, uncover missed revenue opportunities, and understand new updates in the PEPPER, all to help your organization stay ahead of audits and use this powerful data proactively.
Stay ahead of the 2026-2027 audit surge with “Top 10 Audit Targets for 2026-2027 for Hospitals & Physicians: Protect Your Revenue,” a high-impact webcast led by Michael Calahan, PA, MBA. This concise session gives hospitals and physicians clear insight into the most likely federal audit targets, such as E/M services, split/shared and critical care, observation and admissions, device credits, and Two-Midnight Rule changes, and shows how to tighten documentation, coding, and internal processes to reduce denials, recoupments, and penalties. Attendees walk away with practical best practices to protect revenue, strengthen compliance, and better prepare their teams for inevitable audits.
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
BLOOM INTO SAVINGS! Get 25% OFF during our spring sale through March 27. Use code SPRING26 at checkout to claim this offer.
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 1 with code CYBER25
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
