Medicare Directories Have Lots Of Errors, But Where The Blame Should Fall Isn’t Quite Clear Cut
Data accuracy depends on both doctors and health plans, an AHIP official said. Medicare Advantage plans depend on doctors to submit accurate and up-to-date information. Will a new review help?
Bloomberg/BNA:
Medicare Directory Errors, Or It Takes Two To Tango
The federal Medicare agency’s second review, released last week, found that 52 percent of provider directory locations listed had at least one mistake. That’s downhill from the first review when 45 percent of locations listed in these online directories were inaccurate. The Medicare agency calls provider directories “an important tool MA enrollees use to select and contact their physicians.” So the inaccuracies could be a significant barrier to care because MA enrollees rely on the directories to locate an in-network provider. But who’s to blame? (Yochelson, 1/30)
In other Medicare news —
Forbes:
Anthem's New CEO Looks To Medicare, Technology Investments For Growth
Anthem chief executive Gail Boudreaux said Wednesday that the health insurer plans to focus on growing its Medicare Advantage business and increasing investments in digital and mobile technology to improve health plan member experience. Boudreaux, who was hired to replace Joe Swedish in November, addressed analysts on Anthem’s fourth quarter 2017 earnings call, saying she will focus on “optimizing execution.” (Japsen, 1/31)