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News of the Day ... In Perspective09/1/2006Medicare pays $275 million for �quality� data that doctors call useless In an initial step in the Bush administration�s push to get doctors to report important quality measures in their offices, chemotherapy providers were paid $130 each time they assessed a Medicare patient for pain, fatigue, and nausea, and reported results to Medicare. The patients had to pay $26. The top ten billers received more than $270,000 each. One oncologist in Florida billed the government for $625,803. The median amount received was about $23,000. The Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services questioned the integrity of the data. �We identified numerous anomalies and gaps in the data and collection methods,� writes Daniel Levinson in his report. The report also said that �Most oncologists did not believe [the program] would lead to quality improvements for patients or produce any useful research findings.� Medicare officials defended the program, saying it showed the feasibility of getting doctors on a large-scale basis to report quality data. About 90 percent of eligible providers participated. �We�re trying to go from a system that is completely blind to what goes on in the doctor�s office to one that is highly informed and very helpful to the practicing doctor and to the beneficiary through transparency and quality measures,� stated Dr. Peter B. Bach, a senior advisor at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Kevin Freking, AP 8/29/06). Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the taxpayers were �bilked.� Additional information:
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