Does anyone know why doctors offices make you fill out

registration paperwork, i.e. name, address, phone, insurance info once a year even if nothing changes?  And even if the only change that has been made is that you've gotten a new card from the same insurance company, why can't they just take a copy of the new card and that be it?

I'm wondering this because I recently left the at-home MT biz to work in a doctor's office where I work the front desk, as well as transcribe office notes and I was told that we HAVE to get new paperwork on every patient once a year.  When a patient asked me why, I decided to do some research because maybe there are some regulations I don't know about, but I can't find a clear answer.  My research and knowledge on HIPAA is that with a physician's office, a patient only has to sign the HIPAA acknowledgement once and that covers his or her protected health information for as long as he or she is a patient of the practice.  It is not necessary to have them sign a new HIPAA acknowledgement yearly unless the actual HIPAA laws change in some way and the patients must be informed of the change. 

Which brings me back to the registration paperwork, so why do doctors office make their patients redo paperwork once a year and sign a HIPAA acknowledgement once a year?  Why isn't it possible to give the patient a print out of the info we have on file for them and if there are any corrections, the patient makes the corrections and returns the paperwork and if there are no corrections, the patient simply signs the printout and hand it back?

I'm asking this because I am finding that some people get very annoyed when they are asked to fill out paperwork.  I have been called a liar when I have politely told them it has been over a years since we got paperwork.  I have been told "I come here all of the time and nothing ever changes." 

Also when I check a patient in, I am instructed to verify that their address, phone, and insurance are still the same and if the address or insurance has changed, I have to make them fill out new paperwork.  So if they say everything is the same and I still have to turn around and make them fill out paperwork, they understandably get a little irritated.  I have even tried to cushion the blow of paperwork by sweetly telling them that it is actually more work for me when they have to fill out paperwork because I have to enter it all into the computer, etc.

So I'm hoping someone can direct me to a website that will give me the concrete regulation or law or whatever so the next time I'm asked why I can give an educated answer.

Thanks!