government
CMS appoints organizations to draft doctor quality reports
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 3, 2012
Three organizations will gain access to Medicare billing data through a new program designed to provide patients with more information about their hospitals, physicians and other health care professionals.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on Nov. 21 the first qualified entities that will review private and public insurance claims to develop reports on performance in the health care industry. The groups will provide information on health care spending, hospital care, outpatient services and drugs under Medicare.
The organizations are Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, Kansas City Quality Improvement Consortium and Oregon Health Care Quality Corp. The groups were required to show that they can analyze data and compile consumer-friendly reports while protecting sensitive health information.
“These organizations will make quality and cost information more available and easier to understand for the health care systems in their areas,” said acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “By allowing these organizations to combine Medicare data with other insurers’ data in public reports, consumers and businesses will have better information on provider performance, and providers will have a greater incentive to improve the quality of care.”
Physician organizations have said they support the concept of doctor quality reports only if strong safeguards are in place to ensure the accuracy and validity of the public information.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/12/03/gvbf1203.htm.
