CMS announces data release on health care utilization and prices

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services April 2 announced the release of new data on health care utilization and prices at the provider and service level in open, machine-readable formats under an open license. The agency states that the data are intended to support efforts to identify and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, as well as to promote transparency and accountability. The new data sets include Original Medicare utilization and payment data aggregated by provider and service for inpatient and outpatient hospitals; physicians and other practitioners; Part D prescribers; and medical equipment, devices and supply providers. The agency also has released Medicaid provider spending by provider and service.