CMS posts new data to Physician Compare

On Dec. 10 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted 2014 quality data on the Physician Compare website. This is the first time quality data for individual health care professionals has been made available on the site. Group practice data also was posted. Data highlights include:

• Performance scores on preventive care, diabetes, cardiovascular care, and patient safety for group practices and individual health care professionals
• Performance scores on patients’ experiences with group practices
• Performance scores for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

The website update has received criticism because miscalculations of 2014 quality reporting data resulted in the exclusion of a number of physicians. It is suggested that health care consumers could be misled by this information.

AASM members are encouraged to review their own information on the Physician Compare website to be aware of the quality data patients are now able to access.