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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Is It Time for the Public to See Medicare Claims Data?

by James Swann

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The public would have a chance to peek behind the curtain of Medicare claims data, if a recently introduced bill passes Congress. . The Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act (Medicare DATA Act, S. 1180), introduced June 18 by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), would require the HHS secretary to create a free, searchable database containing information on all Medicare payments made to providers and suppliers.

Regulations governing the database would have to be issued by Dec. 31, 2014, and the bill clarified that Medicare claims data are not exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.

The database would include information on all Medicare payments made to providers and suppliers, beginning with fiscal year 2014 data and continuing with each subsequent fiscal year.

Wyden touted the benefits of transparency, saying the database would help "improve the care provided to seniors, help seniors make medical decisions and assure taxpayers that their money is being spent wisely."

He also said that opening Medicare claims data to the public has been long overdue. Grassley and Wyden originally introduced the Medicare DATA Act in April 2011. 
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