Other Helpful Listings

2007 Guide to State Adverse Event Reporting Systems (NASHP)

State Health Policy Survey Report provides a snap shot of the scope and operations of state government adverse event reporting systems as of 2007. At that time, four states (CO, IN, MN and NY) reported facility-specific data online. 20 pages, published by National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), Portland, Maine, December 2007

2009 Median Ratios for Nonprofit Hospitals and HealthCare Systems (Fitch Ratings)

Financial ratios such as operating margin, liquidity (e.g. days cash on hand), long-term debt ratios, average age of plant, etc. 2004 to 2008. Contains ratings and rating outlook for Fitch-rated hospitals and health care systems in nearly every state. Individual hospital listings begin on page 9. August 2009. Free registration required

Accredited Ambulatory Health Care and Surgery Centers (AAAHC)

The nonprofit Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) currently accredits over 4000 organizations in a wide variety of ambulatory health care settings, including ambulatory and office based outpatient surgery centers, IVF clinics and specialty clinics. Consumers can specify Student health center, Endoscopy center, Indian health center, military health care facility or ambulatory surgery center under Organization Type

Accredited Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)

Directory of outpatient surgery facilities accredited by the nonprofit American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery (AAAASF). Over 1100 facilities are reportedly listed, and include cosmetic and plastic surgery centers. Details are very limited. Search by state using the form boxes on the left of your screen

Accredited Chest Pain Centers - Society of Chest Pain Centers

List of Accredited Chest Pain Centers - some with PCI (percutaneous cardiac intervention). Must meet emergency department requirements and standards for timely diagnosis and treatment. List has been reorganized by state for ease of use. Links provided to each hospital's site. Provided by the nonprofit Society of Chest Pain Centers

Accredited Healthcare Facilities - Joint Commission Accreditation (all states)  

The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredits hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Quality Check provides accreditation and comparison information for hospitals, home health/hospice, laboratories, some nursing homes & assisted living centers, and other health care services. Click on View Accreditation Quality Report to see actual scores for 2008-2009

Accredited Hospitals - Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program

The Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), founded by the American Osteopathic Association, shows acute hospitals and their laboratories, critical access hospitals, office-based and other ambulatory surgery centers; behavioral health, and primary stroke centers, that are accredited under the HFAP program. Competitor to the Joint Commission

Acupuncture Referral Service - Find an acupuncturist

List of acupuncturists by state and country - note, many people are listed twice. Besides the US and Puerto Rico, professionals in Canada, Australia, UK (England, United Kingdom), India, and other countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East are included in the directory. Interesting observation: no acupuncturists in China are listed

ALS Association's Certified Centers

The ALS Association is a non-profit dedicated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("Lou Gehrig's disease"). They select, certify and support regional ALS institutions they recognize as the best in the field; and which have neurological diagnostics and imaging, and available certain on-site licensed and certified ancillary services

AMA Doctor Finder  

American Medical Association site provides information on members of the AMA first, but also lists information on non-member physicians. Site reports over 814,000 physicians listed, and shows board certification as well as training. However, you may not find all doctors who are not members of the AMA, nor those not Board-certified.

Ambulatory Surgery Average Charges in U.S. Hospitals, 2003  

Find average prices (mean charge) for more than 100 outpatient ambulatory surgery procedures done in hospitals in 2003. Surgeries grouped by body system (e.g. eye, ear, cardiovascular/ heart, digestive, musculoskeletal/ bones, etc.) Average cataract & lens price was $3900; tonsillectomy was $3800; knee cartilage $6200; hernia repair $5800; outpatient gallbladder removal $8100; lumpectomy $4900; ear tube surgery (myringotomy) $2800; D&C $5000; arthroscopy $7000. Consumers will need to adjust the 2003 prices to get close to 2009 costs. From the HCUP Fact Book No. 9 from AHRQ, published January 2007

American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) - What is Your Doctor's Specialty?  

ABMS is a highly-regarded, not-for-profit organization comprising 24 medical specialty boards, that oversees physician certification in the US. See whether your doctor is board-certified in his/her specialty (such as Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Surgery, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine, Radiology, etc.) and in his/her subspecialty (such as Cardiovascular Disease, Geriatric Medicine, Oncology, Endocrinology, Neonatal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, etc.) Click on Is Your Doctor Certified on the left of the ABMS page. Registration (free) is required, but in many years of using this site, the editor has experienced no down-side to it & would encourage visitors to use the site

American Dental Association (ADA) Directory

Database to help you find a dentist who belongs to the American Dental Association. Shows only name, location and contact information

American Hospital Directory - Outpatient Charges and Volumes (ahd.com)  

Charges and average costs for the 20 outpatient Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) representing the highest Medicare outpatient payment to each hospital. List varies by hospital. May include: cost for colonoscopy, laparoscopy, CT, MRI, clinic and emergency (ER) visits, x-ray tests, upper GI, lower GI endoscopy, arthroscopy, cataract with lens, angiography, echocardiography, hernia repair, infusion therapy, nerve injection, outpatient cardiac catheterization, ultrasound. Scroll to bottom of the hospital page to Outpatient Utilization Statistics. Also shown: inpatient market share by local zip code; net income. Link is to the Free Hospital Information

Assisted Living - General Costs 2008 (MetLife survey)  

Annual Survey of assisted living costs finds annual average costs reach over $36,000. Variation by city (80 major markets) from average cost per month under $2000 (North Dakota base rate) to $4708 (southern Maine). Average is under $2500 in many non-metro markets, Los Angeles, Orlando, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Grand Rapids MI, Rochester MN, Kansas City MO, Omaha, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, and Spokane WA. About 52% provided Alzheimer's and dementia care, with an additional add-on fee for memory care; average base rate was $51,204 per year. October 2008

Assisted Living Federation of America - ALFA Provider Database

Directory size is unknown, relative to all the Assisted Living providers that are licensed by the 50 states, but this may be a helpful starting point. ALFA members are listed first and have detailed profiles; other assisted living facilities show name and city only

Assisted Living, Home Health, Nursing Home Average Costs 2009 (Genworth)  

Average cost for home health aide in a Medicare-certified agency was $46 per hour nationwide and $18.50 per hour from a non-Medicare certified (but still licensed) provider. A private one bedroom Assisted Living facility cost nearly $34,000 per year ($2825 per month), with New Jersey, Massachusetts and Alaska averaging $54,000 to $57k per year. Semi-private nursing home room rate was $183 per day, with Alaska at a whopping $520. Skilled nursing home private room averaged $203 per day in the US. All states, many cities listed. Average adult day care and homemaker rates also shown. Survey by Genworth Financial (CareScout) between January and March 2009; published April 2009

Average Health Insurance Cost by State (AHIP)

Find out what the average annual health insurance premium cost used to be for your state. Report by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a trade association, pub. Nov. 2007, using what appears to be 2006 data on premiums. Shows national average private health insurance premium was $218 to $311 per month for single; $483 to $814 per month family

Average Total Premiums and Employee Contribution, Selected Cities, 2008  

The 2008 average health insurance premiums and amount of employee contribution for single, single-plus-one, and family coverage by selected cities and metropolitan regions, or remainder of state shown in this MEPS table of costs for private-sector businesses. Average single premiums in many parts of the country now exceed $5000 including Alaska, New Haven CT, parts of Massachusetts, NH, Charleston WV, and Milwaukee. Lowest rates of $3405 in selected areas of Hawaii, $3639 in Kansas City, MO, and $3708 in Provo Orem Utah which also had the lowest for average single-plus-one premiums ($6454). Family premiums were best in New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner LA ($10,025) and Provo UT; highest in out-state Minnesota ($15,010)and New Haven-Milford CT ($14,840). Portions of CA, NH, WV and Milwaukee metro exceeded $14,000. Coverage levels and plan design will vary.

Best and Worst Hospitals for Mortality: Heart care, Pneumonia (USA TODAY)

USATODAY.com published the federal government's list of hospitals that stand out for delivering better survival rates for heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia care, and those who score significantly worse in 30-day death rates. Actual mortality rates shown for Medicare patients, using data from 2006 to 2007. Very easy for consumers to read, but a bit outdated. Pub. Aug. 20, 2008

Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac, Cancer Care, Bariatric Surgery & Organ Transplants  

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have designated national Blue Distinction Centers meeting their standards and extensive selection criteria for bariatric surgery, cardiac (heart) care, organ transplants (e.g. bone marrow/stem cell, heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas transplants) and hospitals for 13 Complex and Rare Cancers (e.g. pancreatic, liver, bladder, brain, esophageal, leukemia, rectal, thyroid cancer). Detailed criteria include outcome, volume and mortality/ survival requirements and measures. Lists organized by state; updated 2009

Certified Mammography Facilities

Searchable list of 9000 mammography facilities by zip code or state that are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Certifying State as meeting baseline Mammography Quality Standards for equipment, personnel and practices. Use the complete state list (sort by city) if you want a mammogram in another zip code - or you will likely miss some nearby facilities. Updated 2009

Clinics for Underserved Populations (HRSA)  

List of federally funded health centers that provide primary care, pregnancy care, immunizations, dental care, mental health and other services, regardless of ability to pay. Search by state, county or zip code. Every state appears to have special clinics for those without insurance

CMS Public List of Nursing Homes with Serious Quality Problems (9-22-2009)  

CMS lists nursing homes in any state and District of Columbia that have a history of serious quality problems. These Special Focus Facilities (SFF) have been officially entered into the federal government's SFF program to monitor care. Homes on the list may have a history of "yo-yo" compliance, with a good survey followed by substandard quality on the next, thus unable to sustain good care. Some nursing homes are listed as Showing Improvement. Updated September 2009

Commission on Cancer Hospital Locator  

American College of Surgeons offers the Commission on Cancer - Find Treatment Centers - Search by zip code (or city and state) and driving distance. Click on Annual Caseload to find volumes for different types of cancer treated, and Stage of cancer

ConsumerReports Nursing Home Quality Monitor (Aug 2006)

Consumer Reports elaborated upon its nursing home reports, formerly known as the Consumer Reports Watch List. The 2006 guide (most recent available) identifies nursing homes that are likely to provide better-quality care and those likely to provide poorer-quality care, by listing nursing homes to Consider and those to Avoid. Methodology considered inspection surveys, staffing levels and quality indicators using older 2005 data. Old but interesting. See Nursing Home Compare for more recent information

Cost of Assisted Living, Home Health Aides, Nursing Homes (2008 Northwestern)

Northwestern Mutual surveyed assisted living facilities, home health agencies and Medicare-certified nursing homes in about 100 major metro regions in all states and DC. in Oct.-Nov. 2008. Average rate for assisted living was over $3400 per month ($41,000 per year). Average daily rate for nursing home care was $210 per day; home health aides averaged $26 per hour, but could be found as low as $10 per hour or well over $80/hr. depending on city. Caution: cities are not listed in alphabetical order, so be patient in finding your region. Also, home health care does not include professional nursing rates in this report (table labels may be misleading.) Full report (33 pg) published Feb 2009

Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care

The project, run by Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School, highlights the wide variations in how health care is delivered across the United States. Online tool provides comparisons by geographic region (HSAs) for Medicare healthcare use (data through 2005). While the tool is easy to use, the conceptual understanding of the reports requires technical sophistication

Directories (MedlinePlus)  

This may be the only directory mega-list you will ever need. Directory links for doctors, dentists, hospitals, chiropractors, psychologists, hospice programs, and more. Extensive list of directories, although some sites only list those who are members of their association, and do not list others who may be licensed in that field. Specialized directories (e.g. Find an Eye MD, Directory of Asthma Camps, Sleep Centers, or Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers) can also be located here. Five pages of listings

Directory of America's Hospitals: State-by-State Hospital Index  

Comprehensive index of over 6000 hospitals prepared jointly by the American Hospital Association and US News & World Report. Descriptive information, and links to hospitals' websites. Includes Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands. Well-maintained site

Doctor and Dentist Ratings and Reviews

Patients may rate anyone called Doctor (such as chiropractors and dentists) in the US and selected countries at this site: RateMDs.com. As of August 2009, very few physicians had more than 30 patient ratings. Most physicians only have one patient rating. Doctors are rated on punctuality, helpfulness and knowledge. May sort list by city or number of ratings. Consumers may add a comment

Fertility Clinic Success Rates - 2006 ART Report (CDC)

Find out about ART clinics (Assisted Reproductive Technology) in the US and Puerto Rico, in this 584-page report by the CDC and DHHS. Shows trends and educational information about techniques such as IVF with sperm injection, and Day 5 embryo transfer. One-page summaries for each of 426 fertility clinics reporting 2006 data, include pregnancy success rates by age of woman, and more. Pub. Nov. 2008

Find a Geriatric Care Manager

The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. helps you find one of their members through this national directory. Easy to use. Credentials of their members may vary widely.

Find a Plastic Surgeon (ASAPS)

Use the online directory to find a board-certified plastic surgeon for your plastic surgery such as breast augmentation or breast reduction, eyelid surgery, facelift, laser hair removal, liposuction, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) or tummy tuck. Web site by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)

Find an Oncologist American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Interactive database to help you find a board-certified physician with specialties in the specific type of cancer expertise you're interested in, or types of oncology, tumors, etc. From the American Society of Clinical Oncology (cancer.net) ASCO website

Find an Orthopedic Foot and Ankle MD Physician (AOFAS)

Members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society are listed in this searchable database. Only name and contact information available. Check other sources for education and experience

Find an Orthopedic Surgeon (Orthopaedist)

Find an orthopedic surgeon anywhere in the US. Easy-to-use and informative site, by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Fraud Prevention & Detection - State Counts & links to individuals excluded from Medicare

Office of Inspector General, HHS - Lists individuals and businesses by state who have been excluded from receiving payment from Medicare and Medicaid, due to license revocation, suspension or surrender; program-related fraud; patient abuse or neglect, and other reasons such as default on Health Education Assistance Loans. Nearly 45,000 listings as of June 2009. All states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

GuideStar.org - Form 990 and Executive Compensation, Nonprofits  

Free registration is required to access the basic database, but it is worth your time. Most tax-exempt nonprofits file a Form 990 with the IRS, which shows important financial information and executive compensation (or portion of executive comp) received from that organization. Guidestar reports having over 10 million visits per year

HCAHPS - Patient Satisfaction Scores for Hospitals  

Use the Find and Compare hospitals tab to view patient satisfaction survey ratings and opinions by hospital inpatients across the US. Side by side comparisons for 3 hospitals at a time, 2008 data. Find out how many patients would recommend their hospital, and the percent who give their hospital a 9 or 10 score. Voluntary hospital participation. Federal government oversees the HCAHPS survey process (H-Caps) - Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, which has been available since 2008; updated 2009

HealthGrades Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence, 2010 (pdf)  

Eighth annual report (Jan 2010) identifies 269 top-rated distinguished hospitals evaluated using Medicare data from 2006 to 2008. Mortality results (survival rates) and complication rates have been factored in for 26 procedures and diagnoses such as: heart bypass surgery, angioplasty & stent, heart attack, heart failure, valve replacement, back & neck surgery, COPD, gall bladder, hip fracture, hip replacement, knee replacement, pneumonia, prostatectomy, stroke, bowel obstruction, GI bleed, pancreatitis, diabetes hospitalization, pulmonary embolism & sepsis. Hospital lists start on page 13; 37-page document

HealthInsight: National Rankings for Home Health Agencies (all states)  

Overall composite home health quality ratings based on a summary of 11 measures of care in 2008-2009. Health Insight, the QIO for Utah and Nevada, used the national CMS measures and data to develop a composite ranking. Easier to use than the federal CMS website, but less detail. Interactive tool allows quick search by state

HealthInsight: National Rankings for Hospitals (all states)  

Overall hospital rankings based on a summary of AMI (heart attack), heart failure, pneumonia disease and surgical infection prevention rankings, plus patient opinions. Health Insight, the QIO for Utah and Nevada, developed a helpful composite ranking for nearly every hospital in the nation, using 25 national CMS measures and satisfaction ratings from inpatients. Results shown by state. Easier to use than the federal HospitalCompare website, but less detail, and Mortality ratings do not appear to be included. Updated with 2008 data, September 2009

HealthInsight: National Rankings for Nursing Homes (all states)

Overall composite nursing home quality ratings based on a summary of 6 to 12 quality measures on over 13,000 nursing homes in 2008-2009. Health Insight, the QIO for Utah and Nevada, used the national CMS measures and data to develop a composite ranking. Easier to use than the federal CMS website, but less detail. Updated 2009

Home Health Aides and Adult Day Care Costs, 2008 (MetLife)

MetLife Mature Market Institute 2008 survey findings on average costs for home health and adult day center services. National average daily cost for adult day care was $64 per day; average hourly rate for home health aides was $20, and homemakers were $18 per hour. Report shows variation by state or selected cities. For example NYC had a $107 daily rate for adult day center, while Rochester, NY was at $52 per day, and Montgomery AL at $27 per day. Home health aide cost averaged $17 per hour in New York City, $18 in Chicago, and just $12 in Shreveport LA. Chicago's day center rate was just $50/day - lower than average prices in Denver ($61), Pittsburgh PA ($53) but higher than San Antonio TX ($32). California day center rates were on the high side from $69 in San Francisco to $77 in San Diego. Home health aides were highest in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN ($28). Inquire about fuel surcharges or mileage fees. July-August 2008 survey published Sept. 2008 (2009 Update-report has been removed. Link to press release only)

Home Health Compare - www.medicare.gov (all states)  

This tool gives detailed information about Medicare-certified home health agencies. Search by county or zip code and see performance scores related to nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, home health aides, speech and social services. Find the graphs to compare agencies on ten measures related to getting around, pain, bladder control, bathing, patients who get admitted to the hospital or need urgent unplanned medical care, and more. 2008-2009 data

Hospice - Find a Hospice that signed the Quality Pledge (NHPCO)

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the US. Their searchable database helps consumers find a member hospice, including those Quality Partners who have signed the Quality Pledge

Hospital Compare - 30-day Death Rates, Heart Attack & Heart Failure (2009)  

Federal government site from CMS shows whether hospitals meet expected 30-day survival rates for heart attack and heart failure Medicare cases. National Risk-Adjusted death rates were 16.6% for heart attack and 11.1% for heart failure. Of 2999 US hospitals that could be reliably reported for heart attack, 94% were no different than national average mortality; 131 were better and 54 were worse. Of 4188 hospitals measured and reported for heart failure mortality, 91% were statistically no different; 213 had better survival rates and 165 were worse. Compare hospitals in your area. Results updated June 2009, using 2005-2008 data

Hospital Compare - 30-day Death Rates, Pneumonia (2009)  

Federal government site from CMS shows whether hospitals met expected 30-day survival rates for Medicare pneumonia patients. The national Risk-Adjusted death rates (mortality rates) were 11.5% for pneumonia. Of 4471 US hospitals measured and reported, 88% were statistically no different than national average; 253 had better survival rates and 284 were worse. Find pneumonia mortality ratings under Outcome measures. Results use 2005-2008 data, updated June 2009

Hospital Compare - hospitalcompare.hhs.gov (all states) - Heart care, pneumonia, surgical infections  

Federal government compares hospital care ratings on measures for heart attack (AMI), heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention. Data include heart failure and heart attack mortality, also percent of heart attack patients given PCI (such as stent or balloon angioplasty) within 90 minutes of arrival. Shows patient satisfaction HCAHPS ratings. Readmission rates for Medicare (these illnesses only) were added in 2009. Editor's Pick because the government standardized its ratings for all hospitals, and most ratings are based on more than just Medicare patients. Hospital participation is voluntary. Small volume hospitals will not show data for some measures. Current with 2008 data. Puerto Rico included. Hospitals may refer to these measures as the CMS measures. Updated 2009

Hospital Comparison Tool - Hospital Ratings & Cost Rankings (all states)  

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Mexico makes this Hospital Comparison Tool from HealthShare (WebMD) available to compare hospital care ANYWHERE in the country, mostly using Medicare data. No registration required. Gives results according to the importance you give to survival, complication rates, costs, volume and length of stay. Provides rankings, and crosses state lines when doing the search. Considerable detail on different types of complications if you keep delving deeper. Disease categories include Cancer, GI (e.g., appendectomy, colon or bowel surgery, gall bladder, hernia repair, gastric bypass), gynecology (e.g. hysterectomy), stroke (under head & neck), heart (e.g. attack, failure, angioplasty, cardiac bypass, catheterization, defibrillator, pacemaker, valve), lungs (e.g. pneumonia, COPD), medical, mother & baby (maternity, delivery for selected states only), orthopedic (e.g. hip or knee replacement), pediatric, prostatectomy, plastic/cosmetic surgery and heart, kidney, lung or liver transplants. Caution: it always assumes higher volume is preferred, which may not be valid. Patient satisfaction scores from the federal HospitalCompare tool shown, without disclosing dates.

Hospital Patient Satisfaction Ratings - AboutHealthSatisfaction.org

Easy to use website lets consumers find satisfaction ratings and recommendations given by hospital inpatients. Uses the same HCAHPS data as the federal HospitalCompare website (10 measures), but users can compare more than 3 hospitals at once, and easily cross state lines; visually easier to read. Dates are not clear and may not be as recent as the national government site. Created by IPRO, a not-for-profit healthcare consulting organization based in New York

Hospital Ratings at HealthGrades (all states) 2010  

Hospital Ratings (5-star, 3-star, 1-star) for about 30 diseases & inpatient procedures: Stroke, back surgery, COPD, diabetes, gall bladder surgery (cholecystectomy), bowel obstruction, GI Bleed, hip fracture repair, total hip replacement, knee replacement, prostatectomy, respiratory failure, pneumonia, cardiac bypass, heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty/ stent, valve replacement, sepsis, pancreatitis, peripheral vascular bypass & more. Free information on survival rates or complication rates if you click on the GOLD CROSS at the left. Medicare-only data for most conditions, although some states provide maternity, appendectomy, and bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) data. More extensive list than the federal government's site. Free hospital ratings are easy to use and cover all states. BEWARE, the site will try to sell you other services ($17.95+) that you may not need if use the free listings at consumerhealthratings.com. Publicly-traded company. Most 2010 ratings use data from 2006 to 2008; some data may be older. To see all hospitals in a state, do NOT select city. AOL users should use another browser. Updated October 2009

Hospital Surgical Infection Prevention Ratings - National  

Compare hospitals on how well they take action on three steps to prevent infections from inpatient surgery. Site uses same information as the federal CMS HospitalCompare, but is easier to use. Consumers Union (the publisher of Consumer Reports), actively promotes public disclosure of hospital infection rates at stophospitalinfections.org and tracks state laws on infection reporting

J.D. Power - 2009 Health Insurance Plan Ratings - consumer opinions

J.D. Power and Associates shows ratings for 131 participating health plans on Overall member satisfaction, Choice of doctors & hospitals, Communication, Approval processes, Claims processing, Insurance statements, Coverage and benefits, and Customer service (click on More). See ratings for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dean, Harvard Pilgrim, Health Alliance Plan, Highmark BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser, Medical Mutual, HIP Health Plan, Humana and more. JD Power reports Aetna and UnitedHealthcare were at the bottom of the list. Member satisfaction survey data from Dec. 2008 and Jan. 2009

J.D. Power Consumer Center - Service Excellence Awards - Hospitals

J.D. Power and Associates 2009 list of hospitals with high service excellence, based on patient survey ratings. Note, only hospitals participating in the J.D. Power surveys are included. Awards listed for inpatient, outpatient, maternity, ER (ED), and cardiovascular service satisfaction

Kaiser statehealthfacts.org: 50 State Comparisons: Minority Health Insurance Coverage

Site shows race/ethnicity comparisons for health insurance coverage and uninsured. Updated 2008, using 2006-2007 data

Kidney Dialysis Center Compare - from medicare.gov  

Compare services and ratings on kidney dialysis facilities in any state or US territory. Quality measures show Survival Rates among facilities and quality of care provided to Medicare patients at hospital-sponsored centers, nonprofit and for-profit dialysis centers. Resources on kidney failure and end stage renal disease (ESRD) also linked

Leapfrog Hospital Quality Ratings - For Consumers (all states)  

The Leapfrog Group, an employer-based coalition, asks hospitals to voluntarily report how closely they follow recommended quality and safety practices, including Evidence-Based Hospital Referral for high-risk procedures (volume standards), ICU staffing using intensivists, progress on 29 Safe Practices and other steps to prevent mistakes and injuries. CLICK on the green [i] to the right of each green bar chart to find out if your hospital meets survival expectations and volume standards of 450 CABG procedures, or 400 for angioplasty, or 120 for aortic valve replacement; 50 for AAA, or 11 for pancreatic resection, or 13 for esophagectomy; 50 High-Risk Delivery-Neonatal ICU patients per year, 125+ weight loss surgery cases/yr. Info on pneumonia, heart attack and normal deliveries also reported. Many hospitals participate; easy to compare. Updated for 2009, but period covered is unclear. Leapfrog was a pioneer in getting ratings in the public eye

Leapfrog Top Hospitals for 2009 (Dec. 3, 2009)

Leapfrog named 45 hospitals to its Top Hospitals list, including 8 top children's hospitals. The 2009 list includes 3 rural hospitals, and requires a certain efficiency score in addition to quality. Hospitals are located in AZ, CA, District of Columbia, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN and WA. Hospitals must have responded to Leapfrog's Hospital Survey. Winners include Brigham & Women's, California Pacific, Mayo, Kaiser Permanente, Northwestern, Lehigh Valley, Vanderbilt, Virginia Mason, more. Leapfrog Group is a large employer-based organization whose mission is to trigger giant leaps forward in the safety, quality and affordability of health care

Link to Your State Insurance Department Site (all states)

If you like to browse, your state's site may have additional information about health insurance. These links are provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. The NAIC site also has a company search feature (under Consumer Information, from the Home page) that allows you to obtain financial information, and complaint information on HMOs and other health insurance providers.

Medical Fitness Association: Find an MFA Facility

The Medical Fitness Association (MFA) is a non-profit organization that tracks, supports and promotes the industry of medical fitness centers. It estimated that about 950 fitness centers were operating in 2008

Medicare (Inpatient) Prices for 31 Common Hospitalizations - June 2007

Find out the average charge (price) and the average Medicare payment (the closest consumers will get to cost) and volume information by county or state for 31 inpatient DRGs such as heart valve, major large or small bowel or stomach operations, inpatient hernia operations, gall bladder removal (open or laparoscopy), hip or knee replacement, bone biopsy, inpatient shoulder joint surgery, kidney and bladder operations for cancer, other kidney or bladder operations, prostatectomy, hysterectomy, back spinal fusion, cervical spinal fusion, insert heart defibrillator. Fiscal year 2006 data. The large gaps between charges and payments may shock you, and lead to a number of questions about cost-shifting, true costs, and realistic charges. Must be able to use Excel spreadsheets. This is part of the government's work to become consumer-friendly for healthcare. It covers all 50 states, but not all counties, and may be the only place you can find this information. Average consumers may have difficulty with navigating the very large, cumbersome files. We had hoped by now, the reporting would show improvements in consumer-friendliness. No such luck; prices for 2008 and 2009 not available as of May 2009.

Medicare - Other Hospital Inpatient Charges - 12 DRGs (June 2007)

In the second file at this site, called Other Inpatient Hospital DRGs of High Utilization, you can find number of cases by county and state, and average charges for Chronic lung disease (COPD), pneumonia, heart bypass with cardiac cath, AAA repair (DRG 110), pacemaker implant, heart attack, heart failure, chest pain, large or small bowel procedures, diabetes, angioplasty with stent, heart valve procedures, and others. Average Medicare payment might give consumers an idea of average cost and cost-shifting. Pacemaker Implant example shows national average charge of $40,752, with average Medicare payment of $12,689 (a 69% discount!) Must know Excel, and be able to find your DRG. Organized by state and county; Fiscal year 2006 data. Not very user-friendly nor current, but it is a place to start.

Medicare Ambulatory Outpatient Surgery Average Cost (2008)

Find out the average prices (charges) to Medicare patients in your state and county, and how much Medicare actually pays for 50 common ambulatory surgeries for rotator cuff repair, wrist fracture pinning, hernia repair, shoulder scopes, endoscopy, colonoscopy, bladder scopes and stents, laser coagulation or vaporization of prostate for urine flow, lower back injections and more. Example: Hernia repair CPT 49560 has average charge of $3720, with Medicare allowing $568 and actually paying $446. Over 80% discount! Average payments do NOT show how much your costs for co-pays and deductibles are. Consumers are expected to know CPT codes and how to use Excel files. Not our favorite, but this is the best of what's out there, and it shows how messed up healthcare pricing is. No longer Editor's Pick, since in two years and the Value-Driven Health Care initiative, we expected improved reports. 2007 data published Aug. 22, 2008

Medicare Ambulatory Surgery Charges - 13 Other Commonly Performed Procedures (2008)

See this second file for 13 more procedure prices and discounts to Medicare. This file covers charges and payments for selected outpatient surgery such as breast biopsy (example: $2446 national average breast biopsy charge, with Medicare allowing $373, and paying $295 - over 80% discount; last year they paid $314), surgical change of stomach tube, prostate needle biopsy (CPT code 55700 $1319 average charge, $341 allowable; $267 average cost paid), nerve blocks, cataract removal & lens insertion ($2827 charge, $966 allowed), cancer screen colon scope for high risk patients, and more. Confusing file unless you know CPT codes. This is the best of what's out there nationally, with state and county average charges. 2007 data published Aug. 22, 2008

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans - Premiums and Quality Ratings  

Compare the prices (monthly premium average cost) for prescription drug coverage through Medicare (medicare.gov) and see which plans have higher ratings. Uses a 5-star quality rating system that includes member satisfaction survey reports

MGMA Members Rate Health Insurance Plans 2009

Find out how members of the Medical Group Management Association rate Medicare Part B, Aetna, CIGNA, Coventry, Humana, Anthem and UnitedHealthcare health insurance companies (payers). On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), the best can only muster a 3.6 rating. These scores indicate how easy a health plan is to do business with. Pub. Oct. 2009

NCQA Health Insurance Plan Ratings and Report Card 2009  

Compare quality ratings for HMOs and PPO health insurance plans. Aetna, Blue Cross, Cigna, United - they're all here. Star ratings and distinction ratings shown for accredited commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans. NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) is a private nonprofit organization that sets standards for quality of care and service that health plans provide to their members. NCQA Accreditation is a nationally recognized seal of approval. Updated 2009

New Orleans Health Care in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Videos and Hurricane Katrina survivor experiences archived by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Aug. 2006

Nursing Home Average Costs, 2008 (MetLife Survey)  

MetLife surveyed nursing homes in 83 major markets in all states and DC. in Sept. 2008. Average daily rate for nursing home care found to be equivalent to $70,000 to $77,000 per year (range by city for private room, from $90 in parts of Louisiana to $515 per day in parts of NJ and Hawaii). Example of city rates: Chicago nursing home Semi-Private daily rate ranged from $114/day to $220/day, with an average of $156. Report includes Assisted Living costs. Easy to read report, published October 2008

Nursing Home Compare (all states) www.medicare.gov 2009  

Free 5-star ratings from Nursing Home Compare for nursing homes that are Medicare or Medicaid certified and provide skilled nursing care. Quality ratings, nursing staffing and CNA hours per resident day, and results from survey inspection reports are updated for 2009. If you cannot find the nursing home you're interested in, the facility might not accept Medicare and Medicaid patients. Check your state reports for additional information. Consumers can also ask the nursing facility to share their reports on resident and family satisfaction. Good nursing homes welcome your inquiry

Nursing Home Watch List from MemberoftheFamily.net

MemberoftheFamily.net provides information about 16,000 Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes in the United States, including reports based on recent government surveys. This watch list tends to identify a lot of nursing homes

Nursing Homes & Assisted Living - Find Quality First signers

Browse this database of members in the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging to find nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living, adult day care and home & community-based services. Some AAHSA members have signed Quality First Covenants, reflecting a commitment to create an environment that inspires consumer confidence in the quality of care & services they receive, shaped by not-for-profit values

Obesity Trends, 1985-2008, CDC

State-by-state obesity trends for adults from 1985 to 2008. Download the PowerPoint slides to see dramatic growth of Americans, year by year, as obesity grips the country. You will want to eat better and exercise more after seeing these animated maps. Data shown in the maps were collected through the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Report also available as pdf; pub. 2009

Organ Transplants - Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (all states)

Transplant survival rates on a regional basis (1-year, 3-year, 5-year) compared to national; transplant center volumes; kidney, pancreas, liver, heart, lung, intestine. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Updated 2009

Palliative Care - Provider Program Directory

Hospitals with Palliative Care programs are listed in this directory by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) in conjunction with the National Palliative Care Registry. Palliative care specializes in the relief of the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness

Physician Charges: Preventive Services in an Office (Medicare Payments) 2007

Scroll to the download section of the page to find the Excel file for Preventive Services, which shows what physicians submitted for average charges and what they were paid on average in 2007 by Medicare. Types of services: screening mammogram. cervical cancer screen, prostate cancer PSA test ($26 payment on average $79 charge), colonoscopy (most common charge $840, Medicare paid $292 on average), vaccine and vaccination charges, bone density studies, glaucoma screening, diabetes education, smoking counseling, and more. Very difficult file for average consumer. Released Sept. 2008

Physician Payments: Average Cost for 19 Common Services in an Office Setting

Another difficult file to use for find out the average doctor's price for 19 common services such as skin biopsy, nail trimming, skin lesions, take fluid out of a hip, knee or shoulder joint, remove ear wax, knee x-ray, bone density scan, psychotherapy visit, photography of back of eye, EKG cardiogram, cardiac stress test, breathing tests, skin tests for allergies, allergy shots, evaluate need for physical therapy, ultrasound, chiropractor service, new patient office visit (level 3, Medicare pays $61), and established patient office visit with history and exam ($41 average payment). Must know how to use Excel files. Shows average doctors' charges, and what Medicare paid to physicians on average in 2007 for every state. Updated Sept. 2008

Physician: Average Cost for 72 Common Hospital or Surgery Center Procedures (2 files)

Very difficult files for consumers to use unless familiar with Excel. Prices in the two files for 72 Commonly Performed Services cover doctors' charges and what Medicare paid (18% to 25% of submitted charges would be common) during 2007 for breast biopsy, mastectomy, repairing rotator cuffs, fractures, shoulder scopes, upper stomach-intestine scope for diagnosis or biopsy, colonoscopy, stomach tubes, hernia repair, scope of the bladder, kidney stone procedures, prostate needle biopsy, nerve blocks, cataract removal and insertion of lens, post-cataract laser surgery, total hip replacement, total knee replacement, anesthesia charges and prices for surgery, endoscopy and more. Uses CPT codes, and all states are listed. Updated Sept. 2008

Premier 2009 Award for Quality Winners

23 hospital winners were selected on the basis of best quality and efficiency. Premier used the 2006 Medpar (Medicare) data to evaluate clinical outcomes (including mortality), resource utilization and clinical process indicators in last year's report; 2009 report did not disclose data source. Announced June 2009

QIO Listings - Quality Improvement Organizations for each state

The mission of the QIO program is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. It is sponsored by the Medicare Quality Improvement Community (MedQIC, pronounced med-quick) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Rehabilitation Hospitals - CARF-Accredited Facilities

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities offers the ability to do an online search for accredited facilities with specific rehab programs you may be interested in. Includes Behavioral Health, Pain Management, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord, Physical Rehab, Aging services, and more. Search engine is very complicated because of its required detail, and limit on searching one state at a time

State Comparisons: % of Adults Aged 65+ Who Have Ever Received A Pneumococcal Vaccine, 2008

Two-thirds (66.9%) of those ages 65+ have had their pneumonia shot according to this map. Leader is New Hampshire at 73%. At the bottom again this year: Washington DC (55%). Kaiser Family Foundation at statehealthfacts.org. Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands data included

State Comparisons: Health Insurance Coverage of Nonelderly 0-64, by state (2007-2008)

Have you ever wondered where the 45+ million people under age 65 and without health insurance are located? Kaiser Family Foundation shows the number uninsured by state. Ten states make up 60% (over 27 million) of the US uninsured under 65: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, and Arizona. Perhaps these top ten states could lead the way. KFF statehealthfacts.org updated 2009

State Comparisons: Percent of Smokers who Attempt to Quit Smoking, 2008

Kaiser Family Foundation at StateHealthFacts.org - Map showing state by state percent of smokers who tried to Quit Smoking. Overall 58% tried to quit, US-wide according to the most recent (2008) data. What is happening in your state?

State Health Departments - healthfinder®

List at healthfinder.gov - Links to all state health departments, compiled by the US Department of Health and Human Services

States with Adverse Event reporting systems

Identifies 26 states and Wash. DC that require adverse event reporting. Prepared by the National Academy for State Health Policy, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to helping states achieve excellence in health policy and practice

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator  

Find a treatment facility for alcohol, drug, and substance abuse treatment; detoxification services, etc. Search up to a 100-mile radius, including crossing state lines. The Detailed search (on left) allows specifying outpatient, inpatient, residential treatment, or a mix of mental health and substance abuse services, and permits a full national search. Site by the federal Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Thomson 100 Top Hospitals - 2007 Performance Improvement Leaders

Thomson Reuters (formerly Solucient) has identified 100 hospitals who have made the greatest progress in improving hospital-wide quality performance and efficiency over five years (2002-2006). These hospitals will be working to achieve the full recognition of the 100 Top Hospitals National Benchmarks list. Published August 2008

Thomson 100 Top Hospitals - 2008 National Winners

Formerly known as the Solucient 100 top hospitals, this list names top hospitals in categories according to size and teaching status using Medicare data from 2003-2007, and other scores from the publicly reported results at HospitalCompare. While no data are shown for individual hospital performance, Thomson makes a case that as a group these hospitals outperform their peers in quality and efficiency. Free report shows winners' names only; some winners received the Everest Award for also improving at the fastest rate. Methodology examines Medicare risk-adjusted mortality, complications & patient safety; core measures for heart care, pneumonia care, surgical infections; patient satisfaction scores; and length of stay, efficiency, profitability and cash-to-debt ratio. Released March 2009

Thomson 100 Top Hospitals - 2009 Cardiovascular Winners

Thomson's 2009 selection of 100 hospitals with significant heart care programs listed, in categories: teaching hospitals with cardiovascular residencies, teaching hospitals without such residencies, and community hospitals. List only, organized by state; study used Medicare data from 2007-2008. Released November 2009

Top Performers - Why Not the Best Hospitals (Commonwealth)

The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system, launched a side-by-side comparison tool of 4500 US hospitals called Why Not the Best? Using 2007-2008 data from the CMS Hospital Compare website, this tool helps people compare overall and composite performance on heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, and patient satisfaction, and identifies the top 1% of hospitals. Easy to use, but explicitly NOT meant for consumers choosing hospitals. Instead, it's intended to be a research tool to improve hospital performance.

Trauma Programs: Verified Trauma Centers (ACS)

Level I, II and III Trauma Centers are listed here, by state (and Landstuhl Germany), at the American College of Surgeons' website. Trauma Center designation is a voluntary process that hospitals may choose to pursue for Adult and/or Pediatric care. Level I is the highest level. For remote areas, a Level IV designation can be sought; unclear why Level IV hospitals are not listed (approx. 29); Sept. 2009

UCompareHealthCare.com (all states)

Compare four hospitals at one time on volume, quality measures, patient safety, infection prevention, mortality rates. Privately held company. Reports cross state lines. Not applicable to Pediatric Children's hospitals

USNews.com America's Best Hospitals 2009: Honor Roll (21)

Johns Hopkins (Baltimore) and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) top the list of 21 US hospitals identified (from 5000 nationwide), who rank favorably in multiple specialties. Check the details to see specifics for a certain illness, since one hospital may not be ranked (by US News) as best in everything. This year's rankings show how the hospital was scored. Mortality ratio for Medicare patients and Reputation are two factors used in the rankings for most of the specialties. 2009-2010 ratings use Medicare data from 2005-2007

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Cancer Rankings

US News & World Report named MD Anderson and Sloan-Kettering as its 2009 leaders of the top 50 hospitals for cancer care in the US. Scoring includes 30-day mortality, professional reputation, volume, designation from the National Cancer Institute and other factors. Hospital mortality index shown

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Heart and heart surgery

Top of the Cardiac specialty list: Cleveland Clinic (Ohio) and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). 50 hospitals listed. See if there is one in your state. Rankings include mortality ratio using Medicare data from 2005 to 2007

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Pediatric & Children's Hospitals

Top 30 hospitals for general pediatrics, as determined by US News & World Report, based on reputation score, volume, nurse staffing, and other factors. Special lists for best children's hospitals in heart & heart surgery, and neurology & neurosurgery use mortality (death) rates. Top 30 pediatric hospitals listed for cancer, digestive disorders, neonatal care, and respiratory disorders. List called America's Best Children's Hospitals, was updated June 2009

usnews.com: Best Commercial Health Insurance Plans 2009-2010 Rankings

More than two hundred (239) commercial health insurance plans (HMO & POS) are rank-ordered. Click on plan Name to see details. Compare Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Grand Valley, Capital, Geisinger, Fallon Community, Health New England, CIGNA (NH, ME), Group Health Cooperative, Health Net of Connecticut, Blue Cross Blue Shield (MA), Kaiser, Universal Benefits, Capital District, Anthem, HealthAmerica PA, Health Alliance, Priority Health, HealthPartners MN, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, and many more. Work done in partnership with the highly respected NCQA accrediting organization, which examined 490 plans in depth this year; uncooperative plans were named. Released Nov. 2009

usnews.com: Best Medicaid Health Insurance Plans 2009-2010 Rankings

Eighty two (82) Medicaid plans are rank-ordered. Kaiser Hawaii, Boston Medical Center HealthNet, and Fallon Community Health Plan (Mass.), top this year's list. Work done in partnership with the highly respected NCQA accrediting organization

usnews.com: Best Medicare Health Insurance Plans 2009-2010 Rankings

One hundred sixty six (166) Medicare HMO & POS health insurance plans are rank-ordered. Work done in partnership with the highly respected NCQA accrediting organization. Compare Kaiser Foundation (CO, OR, WA, Southern CA, others), Fallon (MA), Geisinger (PA), Tufts HMO, Capital (FL), MVP Rochester, Capital District Physicians, Group Health Coop, Blue Cross Blue Shield (MA), Security (WI), and others with your regional plans

VA (veterans) Hospitals - Quality Scores 2008

Detailed scorecard for all of the Veterans Health Administration hospitals using 2007 data (some 2006). Ratings for waiting times, infections, quality of care, patient satisfaction, accreditation and patient safety. Report is not real user friendly at 65 pages and infrequent column titles, but if you really want to compare VA hospitals, the information is all there. June 2008

VA Hospital, Medical Facility Quality and Satisfaction Reports

The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) makes its VA Medical Center reports available online. Titles include Combined Assessment Program Reviews; Audits; or Healthcare Inspections. Listed by date. Topics include quality ratings and patient safety, consumer satisfaction & experience of care, nursing home contracts, screening and/or treatment times, volumes and more. Updated 2009

VA Medical Facilities Locator & Directory - Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a convenient search tool to find medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Facilities in the US, Philippine Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico

Walmart's $4 and $10 Generic Drugs (Some will cost more) - Self-Reported

Wal-Mart has implemented a limited-scope program for about 150 generic drugs (361 drug/dose combinations) offered at a $4 price for a 30-day supply in most states. Most drugs may also be purchased at $10 for a 90-day supply. Available in all states except North Dakota. However: Due to FAIR PRICING laws in CA, HI, MN, MT, PA, TN, WI, about 65 drugs will carry higher prices, or may not be available. Alendronate (generic for Fosamax) priced at $24 for 90-day supply. Prices apply to Sam's Club pharmacies also