Medicare websites get a scathing review

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is failing to meet its goal of making healthcare costs more transparent, according to a federal audit released Tuesday.

Five websites meant to help inform Medicare patients about treatments and providers have “critical weaknesses” that make it nearly impossible to calculate out-of-pocket costs, let alone compare quality, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found.

The websites, which are run by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS), allow users to compare physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis providers and home healthcare.

{mosads}But because of data gaps, poor design and unclear language, the GAO has found it too difficult for users to find the best prices or quality.

CMS officials have resisted changes to the websites, partly because of pressure from providers, the GAO reported.

The websites do not list providers in order of price or quality, which the GAO recommends but providers take issue with.

“CMS’s process for developing and selecting cost and quality measures for its tools has been heavily influenced by the concerns of providers rather than consumers,” according to the report.

The stakes are high for Medicare recipients, as some providers cost thousands of dollars more than others for the same service, regardless of quality, the GAO warned.

For example, the costs of an MRI in Indianapolis can range from $450 to $2,233 at nearby imaging centers. Gallbladder surgery at one Denver hospital can cost twice as much as the $6,837 charged at a similarly rated facility.

“The GAO report reveals that there is a need to empower patients with better information on health care price and quality,” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) wrote in a statement to The Associated Press.

“Armed with the facts, it will be possible for consumers to obtain high quality care and drive down costs,” he said.