Medicare: Per Capita Method Can Be Used to Profile Physicians and Provide Feedback on Resource Use

September 25, 2009 The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a program to give physicians confidential feedback on the Medicare resources used to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries. The United States Government Accountability Office evaluated the per capita methodology for profiling physicians to assist the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the development of a physician feedback approach. This report examines the extent to which physicians in selected specialties show stable practice patterns and how beneficiary utilization of services varies by physician resource use level . . .