AAA Issues Material on CMS Release of Medicare Payment Data
By Brian S. Werfel, Esq.
On April 9, 2014, CMS publicly released the “Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data: Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File”, which provides information on Medicare’s payments to physicians, ambulance suppliers and other health care professionals. The payment database contains information on the more than $77 billion paid by Medicare under Part B in 2012 to more than 880,000 fee-for-service providers
To view the AAA’s statement on the release of the Medicare payment data, please Click Here.
The release of this information has generated a great deal of media interest, with numerous news organizations creating their own searchable databases that allow readers to search by physician/organizational name, provider specialty, city, state, etc. News organizations have also been reaching out to the AAA for comment on the report and individual ambulance service providers about their data. The AAA has developed talking points assist its members in responding to media inquiries. To access the talking points, please Click Here.
Members are also encouraged to refer inquiries to AAA staff if they do not feel comfortable answering on their own behalf. You can reach AAA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tristan North at tnorth [at] the-aaa [dot] org or at 1-800-523-4447.