A tiny sliver of doctors and other medical
providers accounted for an outsize portion of Medicare's 2012 costs,
according to an analysis of federal data that lays out details of
physicians' billings.
The top 1% of 825,000 individual medical providers accounted for 14% of the $77 billion in billing recorded in the data.
The
long-awaited data reveal for the first time how individual medical
providers treat America's seniors—and, in some cases, may enrich
themselves in the process. Still, there are gaps in the records released
by the U.S. about physicians' practice patterns, and doctors' groups
said the release of such data leaves innocent physicians open to unfair
criticism.

Medicare paid 344 physicians and
other health providers more than $3 million each in 2012. Collectively,
the 1,000 highest-paid Medicare doctors received $3.05 billion in
payments.
One-third of those
top-earning providers are ophthalmologists, and one in 10 are radiation
oncologists. Both specialties were singled out in a late 2013 report by
the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services
urging greater scrutiny of doctors who consistently receive large
Medicare payments.
The new data show 2012 payments to a total of 880,000 individuals and organizations for more than 5,000 procedures, ranging from office examinations to chemotherapy drugs and computed-tomography scans. The release has been portrayed by both critics and supporters as a watershed moment for Medicare and doctors. Supporters contend it is a positive move toward greater transparency in government.
(Click link below to read more) The new data show 2012 payments to a total of 880,000 individuals and organizations for more than 5,000 procedures, ranging from office examinations to chemotherapy drugs and computed-tomography scans. The release has been portrayed by both critics and supporters as a watershed moment for Medicare and doctors. Supporters contend it is a positive move toward greater transparency in government.
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