Release of Medicare Claims Info a Game-Changer

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The release of any data and information will be a game changer. However, how it will impact the industry is the question. Given the limitations of the claims data I would find it hard to believe it will allow for our industry to greatly benefit from the release of such data. True, it may help one provider or analyst to understand the financial performance of another, but with regard to the quality of care (i.e. effectiveness) this type of data is useless. Nevertheless, the more data and information that is out there the better. Thanks for being more transparent.

Clifford Junio, MSHCA of CA 9:33AM January 25, 2012

The release of any data and information will be a game changer. However, how it will impact the industry is the question. Given the limitations of the claims data I would find it hard to believe it will allow for our industry to greatly benefit from the release of such data. True, it may help one provider or analyst to understand the financial performance of another, but with regard to the quality of care (i.e. effectiveness) this type of data is useless. Nevertheless, the more data and information that is out there the better. Thanks for being more transparent.

Clifford Junio, MSHCA of CA 9:32AM January 25, 2012

What makes this person's case more sympathetic is that he was prescribed meds from his doctor related to the injury he suffered. If a doctor is prescribing medication that is known to be addictive in nature (pain killers), there should be mandatory post-treatment evaluation for addiction and follow-up. It's not like this guy said to himself "I'm going to see what all this fuss over crystal meth is about".
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Damien Woody of FL 1:13PM December 23, 2011

This has to be one of the stupidest ideas ever concocted by any bureacrat with nothing to do. The most elementary analysis would reveal that this "healthcare provider ranking" will only force providers to not accept Medicare patients. If there are no Medicare payments, there is no data for ranking.
The insulting idea that "However, once the data is easily accessible in online reports on doctors and hospitals, new ways of using it will LIKELY be tested, and broader public interest COULD grow." is nuts. This is only a statement made by someone who does not understand one iota how to correctly analyse data.

Larry Gremillion of WA 11:25AM December 23, 2011