Federal order to open Medicare claims data
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled in favor of the nonprofit consumer group Consumers’ Checkbook that sued the Health and Human Services Department to allow disclosure of specific data about doctors from the Medicare claims database.
“These data will make it possible to develop measures that will be very helpful to consumers,” said Robert Krughoff, president of Consumers’ Checkbook. “Someone who is thinking they need a knee replacement — or a prostatectomy — will be able to go on our website and see how many of these procedures their physician has done for Medicare patients,” he added.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet decided if it will appeal the ruling. Consumers’ Checkbook says it plans to make the Medicare data available for free.
Ruling may unlock key data on doctors [Via Los Angles Times]
From Medical Economics magazine, more on Medicare/Medicaid ...
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There are new medicare plans for 2008. I would strongly recommend reviewing your current plan each year as there are sometimes dramatic differences. If you think outside the box you will find some great health plans. The big companies such as Blue Cross will charge whatever they want because they assume people will just go with the name and they spend a ton of money on advertising which reflects in the premiums and benefits. If you look at some other companies you may be pleasantly surprised with the benefits you will find.