Wyoming

Primary Listings

COVID-19 Cases, Deaths and Vaccination Rates for Nursing Home Staff and Residents Editor's Pick

Find the Covid vaccination rates for nursing home staff by facility, across the US. Click on “list of every nursing home with recent resident and staff vaccination rates” to see both staff and resident vaccination rates. The list is in Excel spreadsheet fashion, so use the Control-F shortcut to quickly find the nursing home you’re looking for. Overall, nursing homes have 87% of their staff vaccinated with the primary series as of Oct. 23, 2022, and 87% of their residents. However, only 25% of staff are up to date with boosters, and 41% of residents are up to date with vaccinations. Infected staff can (and do) spread Covid to nursing home residents and cause breakthrough infections for some residents who have been vaccinated. Since the pandemic started, more than 159,000 residents have died from Covid and almost 2,800 nursing home staff have died from Covid. Each group has had more than 1 million cases. This web site will tell you how many cases and deaths were at each nursing home. Published by CMS.

US News Best Nursing Homes 2022-2023 Editor's Pick

U.S. News 2022-2023 list of best nursing homes use federal government CMS star ratings and quality measures from the CMS data of July 2022. Just over 2,400 nursing homes gained High Performing status, out of more than 15,000. The top rated nursing homes selected by US News had to be high performing for either short-term rehab care, or long-term care, or both. Only 335 nursing homes qualified as top performing for both, compared to over 1,000 last year. There were 559 nursing homes categorized as Below Average for both short and long-term care. USNews compared its nursing home ratings to those of CMS Care Compare. The two separate methodologies were in fairly close agreement much of the time, about low-scoring, average, and higher scoring nursing homes. However, they were in perfect agreement only 1/4 of the time (28%). Consequently, consumers should check Nursing Home Compare ratings also. Sometimes (40 nursing homes) CMS would rate the nursing home 5, while USNews gave it a 1 star, or vice versa. Even USNews states that the highest-rated nursing homes are NOT necessarily the best choices. Information on nursing homes from NursingHomeCompare published by US News. Most dates of service were from 2021 or 2022, with Covid vaccination data from July 2022. Updated November 2022.

Wyoming Board of Medicine – Doctor License Lookup – Search the Physician Directory

Lookup your Wyoming doctor’s license at this WY physician directory from the Wyoming Board of Medicine. Both MDs and DOs (osteopathic doctors) are listed. Board certification is also listed. Can check to see if the doctor has a discipline record. As of June 20, 2022, an alphabetical disciplinary report was available on discipline. On individual profiles, the details button provides an extensive report.  Easiest way to search is by last name, or by city.

Wyoming Hospital PricePoint – compare hospital costs

Compare costs at Wyoming hospitals through the Hospital PricePoint website. Average costs, however, have not been updated by WY. Old inpatient charges in WY are shown for 60 common types of hospital admissions. Average statewide cost in WY is also shown, like childbirth (average price for uncomplicated vaginal delivery in state was $9,323, which would be nearly $11,000 in 2022 dollars), newborn, hip or knee joint replacement surgery (average charge $54,605 without complications), heart valves or stents, pneumonia, psychiatric admission ($19,055 average price for severe psychological disorders including schizophrenia, with average 9 day stay in hospital), rehab, and many more. Site shows one hospital at a time. Unfortunately, the charges are quite old, showing 2016-2017 prices; add at least 17% medical inflation for 2022. (Better yet, call the hospital for current information.) WyoPricePoint is by the Wyoming Hospital Association.

County Health Rankings 2023 – All States Editor's Pick

County Health Rankings 2023 for all states, lets consumers compare your county’s health status to the rest of your state. It provides the latest results for smoking, obesity, alcohol use, flu vaccination rates, preventable hospital stays; primary care, dentist and mental health provider rates, percent uninsured (as of 2020), alcohol impaired driving deaths, severe housing problems, social associations, unemployment and much more. The data reflect available results up to 2020 or 2021; a few measures use 2022 data. COVID-19 deaths in 2020 (only) are included in the rankings. Very interesting information on health behaviors and health outcomes. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Univ. of WI Population Health Institute

Health, United States Chartbook for 2020-2021 Editor's Pick

Annual United States Chartbook on Health is a report on trends in health statistics.  Publication: Health, United States, 2020-2021 edition, by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The most recent Chartbook is only in online form by topic. It contains text and figures showing long term trends in the health and healthcare of Americans; most data to 2019;  includes trend tables and figures with charts. Published  by CDC August 2022.

Kaiser State Health Facts: Individual State Profiles

Kaiser State Health Facts provides individual state profiles and for the US as a whole on a variety of healthcare subjects. Compare states on health status, health insurance coverage, costs, racial disparities, and more. Covid-19 cases, deaths testing, and vaccinations were added to the Health Status category in 2020 and 2021. In the Demographics and the Economy category, find information on population, poverty, income, employment, state budgets, taxes, voting and voter registration. From the highly respected and trusted Kaiser Family Foundation; Dates vary from 2019 to 2022.

State Scorecard 2021: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

All states are ranked by The Commonwealth Fund in this 2021 State Scorecard on racial and ethnic equity in health system performance. Download state profiles to see just your state. States that formerly ranked at the top of the list, may not measure well due to racial or ethnic disparities. Measures cover access, affordability, prevention, treatment, potentially avoidable hospital use and cost, and healthy lives. An important report published November 2021.

State-by-State Snapshots (AHRQ)

State-by-state snapshots from AHRQ details quality and disparities in healthcare in your state. How does your state rate? State snapshots show strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement in health and healthcare, based on data from the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR). The data tool is updated on a periodic basis, by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, although dates are not visible. When checked in October 2022, the US as a whole was far under the benchmarks on 22 (of 137) measures. For the black population, about 1/4 of the measures were far below standard, compared to 18% of measures underperforming for the white population. Many of the under-performing measures were in nursing home, hospice or home health care.

Other Helpful Listings

Accredited Ambulatory Health Care and Surgery Centers (AAAHC)

Find an accredited ambulatory health care facility or surgery center.  AAAHC, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care is a nonprofit that currently accredits over 6,600 organizations in a wide variety of ambulatory health care settings, including ambulatory and office based outpatient surgery centers, community health centers, dental clinics, endoscopy centers, lithotripsy centers, some managed health plans, medical group practices, retail clinics, urgent care centers, specialty services, and workplace clinics.  (See also Joint Commission website for hospital-owned ambulatory surgery center accreditation.)

Accredited Healthcare Facilities – Joint Commission Accreditation (all states) Editor's Pick

Find accredited healthcare facilities in all states, by The Joint Commission (TJC). TJC is formerly JCAHO – Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. It accredits hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Quality Check provides accreditation and comparison information for hospitals, behavioral health care, home health/hospice, laboratories, some nursing homes (called nursing care centers) & assisted living centers, and other health care services. A few actual scores for acute care hospitals, emergency departments and behavioral health (mental health) programs may be available for 2021. For nursing homes, consumers are advised also to check state inspection reports . In the past, we have discovered a 1-star Florida nursing home (the lowest possible rating in the state) had been accredited by the Joint Commission. Consumers are always advised to check multiple sources and ratings when researching quality of care. Conflicts in scores may suggest quality is not consistent. Updated 2022.

Accredited Heart Care Centers – American College of Cardiology

List of Accredited heart care centers from the nonprofit American College of Cardiology (ACC). The ACC accreditation program includes the Chest Pain Centers program previously within the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care and the Society of Chest Pain Centers (both known as SCPC.) Some accredited centers have PCI (percutaneous cardiac intervention). Must meet emergency department requirements and standards for timely diagnosis and treatment. List is interactive by state or type of accreditation, including atrial fibrillation (A Fib), cardiac cath, chest pain center, heart failure, heartCARE center, transcatheter valve (TAVR) certification, and more. Shows location of each hospital. Consumers might be surprised to learn that their favorite hospital’s heart program is not accredited or certified.

Accredited Hospitals – Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program

Find accredited hospitals and facilities through the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. HFAP, founded by the American Osteopathic Association, lists names of 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. Search function works best if you apply filters to type of facility (“program type”) and location. Look for the funnel icon.

ACS Meritorious Hospitals for Surgery Outcomes in 2021

New list shows 78 hospitals that achieved “meritorious” outcomes for surgical patient care in 2021. They were selected from over 600 hospitals participating in the ACS (American College of Surgeons) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP®). Most of the hospitals getting the award are in the United States; some are in Canada or Australia. Hospitals are recognized in either (or both) the “All Cases” category, or for “High Risk” cases only. Some hospitals have received this distinction for consecutive years. Scores and types of surgery are not disclosed. However, one can be confident that the ACS did a fair and professional comparison of hospital performance in surgery. Among the criteria were infections and survival rates. Published November 2022.

Acupuncture Referral Service – Find an acupuncturist

The Acupuncture Referral Service helps consumers find an acupuncturist in the United States. List of people who do acupuncture, by city, zip code, or state. Note, some people mention their license; others do not. Consumers may want to verify whether the practitioner is licensed, by contacting their state government licensing site.

Affordable Clinics for Primary Care, Mental Health and Dentists (HRSA) Editor's Pick

Find an affordable clinic for primary care, mental health or a dentist. List from HRSA shows federally funded community health centers that provide primary medical care, pregnancy care, physician office visits, 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. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) have sliding fee scales for people up to 200% of poverty level. Perhaps one of the best healthcare programs in the United States, and not that many people know about it. HRSA is the Health Resources and Services Administration.

ALS Association’s Certified Centers and Clinics

Find an ALS center or clinic that is certified. The ALS Association is a non-profit dedicated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“Lou Gehrig’s disease”). They select, certify and support regional ALS centers and clinics 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.  Updated October 2022.

AMA Doctor Finder Editor's Pick

American Medical Association (AMA) Doctor Finder 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 if they are members of the AMA, shows a detailed profile with board certification as well as training. Click on non-members to see full list.  May show whether physician is Board-certified or not.

Ambulatory Surgery Average Charges in U.S. Hospitals, 2007

Find average charge for about 80 outpatient ambulatory surgery procedures done in hospitals in 2007 (excluding surgeon’s or other physician fees.) Consumers will need to adjust the 2007 prices for medical inflation, to estimate 2021 costs.  Add at least 56% for a rough estimate. Overall average was $6,100, compared to nearly $40,000 for inpatient surgery. In today’s 2022 medical dollars, that would be $9,500 and more than $62,000. Average colonoscopy & biopsy price in 2007 was $2,369; upper GI endoscopy $3,131; cataract & lens was $4,870; tonsillectomy $5,286; knee cartilage $7,357; hernia repair $8,187; outpatient gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) $10,838; breast biopsy $3,863; lumpectomy $7,458; ear tube surgery (myringotomy) $3,547; D&C $6,366; arthroscopy $8,970; incontinence procedures $9,929; varicose veins $,8459; bunionectomy $7,699; wrist fracture $7,807; $4,770 for circumcision. AHRQ Statistical Brief #86 was  published in February 2010. The report was updated in December 2021, with 2019 volumes, as Statistical Brief 287. Unfortunately, the federal government did not include average charges, or cost estimates. in the new report.

America’s Best Hospitals list (Medicare) 2023 from HealthGrades

HealthGrades 2023 list of America’s 250 Best Hospitals shows their choice for the top 50 hospitals and 100 best and top 250 hospitals in the US. List is based on clinical quality for Medicare patients over 3 years ending 2021. It shows which hospitals have held clinical excellence in consecutive years over “an extended period of time” (top 1%), and those in the top 2%. The 250 best hospitals (top 5%) were formerly known as receiving the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.  HealthGrades examined complication rates or survival rates for 32 diagnoses (such as heart failure, COPD, pneumonia, stroke, diabetes, pancreatitis, sepsis) or surgical procedures (such as hip or knee replacement, gall bladder removal, back surgery, bowel obstruction, prostatectomy, angioplasty, valve surgery, and heart bypass). Hospitals are listed by state; not all states had hospitals that ranked in the top 5%. Published Jan. 2023.

American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) – What is Your Doctor’s Specialty? Editor's Pick

Find out what your doctor’s specialty is by checking his/her certification at the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). 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 Board Certified on the certificationmatters.org page (sponsored by abms.org). Registration (free) is no longer required, but well worth it if required in the future. We encourage visitors to use the site.

American Dental Association (ADA) Directory

Use the American Dental Association (ADA) Directory to find a dentist near you. This database helps you find a dentist who belongs to the American Dental Association. Brief listing shows name, practice specialty, location and contact information. Some listings show where the doctor received dental education, and which insurances are accepted.

American Hospital Directory – Outpatient Charges and Volumes (ahd.com) Editor's Pick

The American Hospital Directory at ahd.com shows average charge and average cost for many hospital outpatient services. Most recent period shows 2021 costs. Charges and average costs for the 20 outpatient Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) that made up the highest Medicare outpatient payment to each hospital. Critical access hospitals are excluded. List varies by hospital. Top 20 procedures may include volume (number of claims) and cost for colonoscopy, laparoscopy, CT, MRI, clinic and emergency (ED or ER) visits, x-ray tests, upper GI, lower GI endoscopy, arthroscopy, cataract with lens, angiography, echocardiography, hernia repair, infusion therapy, nerve injection, observation services, outpatient cardiac catheterization, ultrasound. Scroll to bottom of the hospital page to find Outpatient Utilization Statistics. Some rural critical access hospitals may not show any outpatient test and visit prices. Also shown: inpatient market share by local zip code; net income. Link is to the Free Hospital Information

Assisted Living, Home Health, Nursing Home Average Costs 2021 (Genworth) Editor's Pick

What were the average costs for assisted living, home health, and nursing home care in 2021?  According to Genworth, the typical cost for home health aide in a licensed agency was $27 per hour nationwide (median). A homemaker cost was slightly lower. The highest hourly cost for a home health aide was in Minnesota, at $36 per hour (median). Sixteen other states also were at least $30 an hour. The lowest rate was in Louisiana, at $19.

A private one bedroom Assisted Living facility cost more than $54,000 per year ($4,500 per month), though assisted living cost about $80,000 per year in Washington DC, Alaska and Rhode Island. The Semi-private nursing home median room rate in the US was $260 per day (almost $95,000 for a full year); nearly $300 per day for a private room. Rates vary greatly across the states. In Alaska, the median price for a semi-private room in a nursing home was a whopping $1,036 daily rate. More than half (26) of the states and DC have an annual median cost for a semi-private nursing home room at over $100,000 per year. All states listed; adult day care and homemaker rates also shown. Survey by Genworth Financial (CareScout) in August 2021; published January 2022. No updates available yet for 2022 or 2023.

Average Health Insurance Cost, MEPS 2022, by State (KFF)

Find the average health insurance cost for each state in 2022. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows average Single,  Family and Employee Plus One health insurance premiums and deductibles using MEPS data for 2022. For US employer coverage, the average Single premium cost was $7,590 ($633 per month), and the average Family premium cost was $21,931. Oklahoma had the lowest Single premium rates ($6,713), followed by Mississippi ($6,726). New York had the highest average single premium cost at $8,936. Family rates were lowest in Okla. ($19,003 per year); highest in Alaska ($25,892, $2,158 per month).

Deductibles: Single deductibles averaged $1,992. Washington DC had the lowest single person deductibles in 2022, averaging $1,343. Hawaii had an average $1,352 single deductible. These were the only two that had average deductibles under $1,500. The highest average deductible for a single plan was $2,771 (Maine). Family deductibles averaged $3,811, ranging from $3,009 in Washington DC, to $4,858 in South Dakota.

Amounts paid by Employers: On average, employers paid 78% of the single premium cost, and paid 70% of the family premium. Employees paid the difference: 22% of single premium cost and 30% of the family monthly premium. See specifics in each state. MEPS is the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Updated November 2023.

Average Total Premiums and Employee Contribution, Selected Cities, 2022 Editor's Pick

The 2022 average health insurance premiums and amounts of employee contribution are shown for selected cities and metropolitan regions. MEPS table IX.A.2 (starts on page 7) shows annual premium costs for single, single-plus-one, and family coverage for private-sector businesses. All areas had average single premiums over $6,000 per year. Average single premiums in in a few parts of the country exceeded $9,000: Alaska, and Charleston, West Virginia and New York. The New York, Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA region was the highest at $9,659 for a single premium – about $805 per month. Lowest single rate $6,220 was in Wichita, Kansas. Average Single contribution was under $2,000 in most parts of the US.

Average employee-plus-one premiums were over $12,000 across the US. Parts of Alaska had employee-plus-one rates that topped $18,000.

Family premiums were best in Ogden-Clearfield, Utah, at $17,272 per year; parts of Kansas came in second at $17,791. Family premiums were highest in Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, topping $28,000. Coverage levels and plan design will vary. Data from MEPS, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Insurance Component.

Behavioral Health Facility Locator Editor's Pick

The Behavioral Health Facility Locator helps consumers find a treatment clinic or facility for mental health, alcohol, drug, and substance abuse treatment center “near me”. Search up to a 200-mile radius or more, including crossing state lines. The Detailed search 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).

Best Cardiac Surgery Hospital Ratings STS – Society of Thoracic Surgeons Editor's Pick

If you’re looking for the Best Cardiac Surgery hospitals, consider these ratings by STS – the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Compare hospital ratings for cardiac surgery in your state. Many hospitals voluntarily report their results, which are posted here for adult coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), valve replacement, congenital heart surgery and lobectomy for lung cancer. Most results cover the time period through December 2021. Most hospitals get two stars for “as expected” performance. Outstanding hospitals get 3 stars; under-performing hospitals get 1 star. Search by state or name of hospital to find the best. Excellent website. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,600 surgeons and others dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other surgical chest procedures.

Blue Distinction Centers: Cardiac, Cancer, Hip, Knee, Fertility, Maternity, Back, Spine, Bariatric Surgery, Organ Transplants, Gene Therapy, Substance Abuse

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have designated national Blue Distinction Centers meeting their standards and selection criteria for bariatric weight loss surgery, cancer care, cardiac (heart) care, fertility care, organ transplants (e.g. adult and pediatric bone marrow/stem cell, heart, kidney, liver); lung(adult only) transplants, total knee and hip replacement, maternity care, back spine surgery, Substance Use Treatment and Recovery (new in 2020), cellular immunotherapy, and gene therapy for ocular disorders (inherited blindness). Quality criteria can be found from the home page. In addition to Blue Distinction Centers, the Blue Distinction+ (Plus) designates high quality centers considered to have “more affordable care”. (No further information is available on prices.) Interactive database; updated 2022.

CareChex America’s Top Hospitals for Medical Excellence 2022

CareChex by Quantros lists the 2022 top hospital in each state for Medical Excellence. No methodology is shown at the website. (The 2020 awards were based on data from CMS, from Oct. 2015 to Sept. 2018; HCAHPS patient satisfaction survey scores may or may not be included in the scoring). In addition, five health systems were selected for excellence. CareChex is a division of Quantros, a for-profit software solutions company. The company appears to be a competitor to HealthGrades or Watson Health (Truven).

Certified Mammography Facilities

Find certified mammography facilities near you. Searchable list of over 8,700 mammography facilities by zip code or state that are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Certifying State. The facilities must meet 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. As of October 1, 2022, 85% of facilities had been inspected; 86.4% had no violations, according to the MQSA Scorecard Statistics. Nearly 40 million mammograms are done annually.

CMS Public List of Nursing Homes with Serious Quality Problems – SFF (2022) Editor's Pick

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 or having graduated out of the program. In addition, CMS now reports hundreds of nursing homes (nearly 7 pages) that are candidates for the SFF program, based on quality issues over the prior 3 years. Up to 30 nursing homes per state are on the Special Focus Facility Candidate list (Table F). These nursing homes are likely just as troubled as those in the SFF program. Beware if your nursing home is on the SFF list. Download the “SFF Posting”. Updated October 26, 2022.

Commission on Cancer Hospital Locator – Accredited Cancer Programs Editor's Pick

Commission on Cancer Hospital Locator shows Accredited Cancer Programs. The Commission on Cancer search tool helps you find Cancer Centers or Surgeons. Search by zip code (or city or state) and up to a 100 mile driving distance. Facilities are accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons. Accreditation of a cancer center is based on ability to comply with established CoC standards.

Compare Community Health Center ratings – FQHC Editor's Pick

Find and compare performance levels of nearly 1400 federally qualified community health centers (FQHCs) in each state. Together, they served nearly 29 million patients in 2021. Ratings on clinical measures include diabetes, hypertension, prenatal care, low birth weight, asthma, childhood immunizations, depression screening, weight management, dental sealants, cervical cancer screening and more. See Clinical Data section for three-year trends on “Awardees”. Altogether, the health centers have thousands of different sites across the US. They receive federal money to lower the price to low income patients. They are locally owned and managed. Services include primary medical care, dentist services, and mental health care. Excellent program if your community is lucky enough to have a community health center. UDS data from 2021.

Cost of Assisted Living, Home Health Aides, Nursing Homes (2015 Northwestern)

Find the cost of assisted living, home health aides and nursing homes from this 2015 study. Northwestern Mutual surveyed assisted living facilities, home health agencies and Medicare-certified nursing homes in all states and DC in 2015. Average rate for assisted living was $4,383 per month ($52,591 per year). Average daily rate for nursing home private room was $273 per day; home health aides averaged $26 per hour, but ranged from $18 per hour to $43/hr. depending on city. Add at least 22% for medical inflation 2015 to 2022.

Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care

The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care highlights the wide variations in how health care is delivered across the United States. The project is run by Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School. Online tool provides comparisons by geographic region (state, HSAs-Hospital Service Areas, or HRR-Hospital Referral Region) for Medicare healthcare use (data through 2015). While the tool is relatively easy to use, the conceptual understanding of the reports requires technical sophistication. A old timelapse map of the growth in COVID cases across the US during 2020 is also shown.

Dialysis Facility Compare from medicare.gov Editor's Pick

Compare services and ratings on kidney dialysis facilities in any state or US territory, by Medicare.gov. Compare kidney dialysis centers from Fresenius FMC, DaVita, US Renal Care, American Renal Associates, Dialysis Clinic, Satellite Healthcare, Mayo, and more. They are all here. Quality measures show relative survival among facilities and quality of care provided to Medicare patients at hospital-sponsored centers, nonprofit and for-profit dialysis centers. Patient satisfaction results also shown for each dialysis center. Time periods covered were not readily disclosed. Resources on kidney failure and end stage renal disease (ESRD) also linked. Updated April 27, 2022. Part of the CareCompare services from the federal government.

Directories (MedlinePlus) Editor's Pick

The Directories website at MedlinePlus 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

Directory of hospitals in America is alphabetical; or search state-by-state. Comprehensive hospital index of over 6000 hospitals prepared jointly by the American Hospital Association and US News & World Report. Search by location. Descriptive information, and links to hospitals’ websites. Includes Guam, Puerto Rico. Well-maintained site. However, we removed the Editor’s Pick two years ago, when we discovered a Florida hospital marked as “high performing” for knee replacement, only to find “worse than average” survival rating for knee replacement patients. Read carefully and look at the details. Even a “high-performing” hospital in one specialty might have significantly worse readmission rates, or worse in racial disparities for that same specialty.

Doctor and Dentist Ratings and Reviews

Patients may review and rate anyone called Doctor (such as chiropractors and dentists) in the US and selected countries at this site: RateMDs.com. As of January 2023, few physicians had at least 30 patient ratings. Most physicians only have one or a handful of patient ratings. Ratings may also be quite old. On some doctors we checked, the most recent was 2018, or 2017. Doctors are rated on their staff, their punctuality, helpfulness and knowledge. Unable to sort list by rankings or number of ratings. Consumers may add a comment. Be VERY CAUTIOUS in using these ratings as the results may NOT be valid.

Estimates of Uninsured in Each County, US Census Bureau Editor's Pick

Estimates of the number and percent uninsured under age 65, by state and county for 2020, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) released August 2022. Once you’ve located your counties of interest, click on it to see the actual numbers and recent trends. The first year that subsidized insurance was available on the health insurance exchange was 2014. Uninsured rates in the US declined steadily from 2013 when the uninsured rate was 16.8% through 2016 when it reached a low of 10.0%. Since 2016, the average percent uninsured has crept up somewhat to 10.4% in 2020. Compare your county’s rate to your state and the US.

Fertility Clinic Success Rates – ART Report (CDC)

Find Fertility Clinic Success rates in ART clinics (Assisted Reproductive Technology) in the US and Puerto Rico.  This 112-page report is by the CDC in conjunction with Reproductive Medicine societies. Shows success rates by age of woman, and percent of egg retrievals or embryo transfers from a donor that resulted in live births. In depth summaries are also available for each of 448 fertility clinics reporting 2019 data. Almost 40 clinics did not report results, even though they were required to. Success rates declined with age of woman. In evaluating fertility clinics, consumers can see how large or small the reproductive program is in any clinic or state. Published December 2021.

Find a Doctor at Physician Compare, Care Compare

Find a doctor at Physician Compare, at the Care Compare Federal government website (medicare.gov). This bare-bones site lists many physicians by city and specialty, including podiatry. Not too much information, usually less than you get at a state’s licensing site. However, it now has a limited amount of star ratings to compare quality at the clinic level. Performance scores are shown for a medical group as a whole, but they are not specific to an individual doctor in the clinic. In addition, not all licensed physicians are included at this website. Some nurse anesthetists, psychologists, social workers, therapists, dieticians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants & audiologists may be included. Find them by using the Keyword box. Updated 2023.

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, botox (neurotoxin) injection, laser hair removal, liposuction, nonsurgical fat reduction, nose surgery (rhinoplasty) or tummy tuck. Web site by The Aesthetic Society, also known as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

Find an Aging Life Care Professional

Find an Aging Life Care Professional, formerly called geriatric care manager. This national directory is easy to use, to help consumers and caregivers find an expert to assist in managing their loved one’s care. The Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) was formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc.  Credentials of members listed will vary widely. The credentials of the Advanced Professionals may be the most useful. Not all areas of the US are covered.

Find an Oncologist American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Find an oncologist (cancer specialist) through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (cancer.net) ASCO website. Use the 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.

Find an Orthopedic Surgeon (Orthopaedist)

Find an orthopedic surgeon (orthopaedist) anywhere in the US. Easy-to-use site, by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Provides office location address.

Find Health Insurance Plan Finder Options and Costs – healthcare.gov Editor's Pick

Find Plan Finder options and costs for health insurance plans at healthcare.gov. This official health insurance exchange website helps small businesses and individuals know what health insurance options are available to them. These are private plans that are OUTSIDE of the health insurance exchange marketplace, and do not qualify for advance premium tax credit. Search by zip code. Can compare 3 companies or plans at once; approximate monthly premiums are shown. No recommendations or rankings. This list may help you get an idea of prices before talking with an insurance agent. Be ready to see extremely high deductibles for 2024. January 2024 estimates are now available. From HHS at US government.

Find Health Insurance Plans and Prices on the Marketplace Exchange – healthcare.gov Editor's Pick

Find individual health insurance plan options and prices at healthcare.gov. This is the ONLY health insurance site to use if you want (and qualify for) the federal subsidies for affordable health insurance AND your state participates in the federal marketplace exchange. Compare plans on monthly premium prices, deductibles, plan features and star quality ratings. The federal marketplace exchange shows Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum metal levels. It first opened for 2014. People who don’t get subsidies can also choose a plan and enroll at healthcare.gov. Open enrollment for everybody (except Medicare) between November 1 and December 15, 2023 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2024. This year, the federal exchange is again open for an additional month (to Jan. 15, 2024) for coverage starting Feb. 1, 2024. Select See Health Plans and Prices – Search Now – if you just want to scan the plans before you create an account. At minimum, enter your age, or you may get false prices. If you enter your income, the site will estimate how much lower your monthly premium will be with a “premium tax credit” that the government will pay on your behalf. If you lose coverage during the year, you may also qualify to enroll outside of the Nov.-Dec. open enrollment. Links are provided to your state marketplace if your state has its own health insurance website. Use the filter of “easy pricing” within bronze or silver tiers to compare a handful of plans with identical benefits such as size of deductible. However, some of the other plans in that tier may suit your needs better. Nonetheless, this site is Editor’s Pick.

Geriatric Emergency Department Accredited ERs

A list of accredited Geriatric Emergency Departments in hospital ERs. Accreditation is provided by ACEP Geriatrics, the American College of Emergency Physicians. Click on Geriatric ED Accredited List. Unfortunately, it is not user-friendly as an Excel file. The first tab GED Accreditation will provide the basic information about who is meets accreditation standards, city and state, accreditation level. Gold (1) is the highest level.  Date the organization was accredited is given. Read about the standards for optimal emergency care for older adults. When last checked, April 22, 2022, just 306 EDs in the US met some level of the geriatric ED accreditation standards. Updated 2022.

Government Employee 2024 Health Insurance Plan Cost Comparisons (FEHB) Editor's Pick

Health insurance plan cost comparisons in 2024 for Federal government employees. Compare the benefits, member satisfaction, and employee costs for all plans at once. Consumers can also select 3 health insurance plans at one time to see out of network benefits. Web site for Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program is from US Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Enrollee premium, deductible, copays and maximum out of pocket costs are shown. Search by zip code; choose local plans and/or national plans. Convenient and current for 2024. Helpful to federal employees and others. The amount that taxpayers and government institutions pay toward the total health care premiums is no longer available, as it was a few years ago.

GuideStar.org – Form 990 and Executive Compensation, Nonprofits Editor's Pick

Check GuideStar.org to find executive compensation and other Form 990 information on nonprofit organizations. Free registration is required to access the basic database, but it is worth your time. GuideStar.org is a go-to source, now a part of Candid. 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 the ability to search 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations, as well as thousands of faith-based nonprofits.

HCAHPS – Patient Survey Ratings for Hospitals 2021

Find patient survey ratings for hospitals in 2021. Compare HCAHPS patient satisfaction scores. The time periods represented in the data are very difficult to find, so we have removed Editor’s Pick. (As of the latest report, the survey ratings appear to be reported for 2019 and 2021, skipping the pandemic year.) Nonetheless, this site is still one of the best for hospital comparisons. Compare 3 hospitals at a time, side by side. 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. Hospital Compare became part of Care Compare at Medicare on December 1, 2020. Updated January 2023.

Health Insurance Company Rate Increases for 2023 Editor's Pick

Preview the health insurance company rate increases for 2023. Healthcare.gov reports the rate requests and final rate increase or decrease (now posted) for Jan. 1, 2023, by name of health insurance plan for both Individual policies and Small Group enrollment. Health plans on – and off- the health insurance exchange. Search by state, and look for increases effective January 1, 2023. Updated for 2023.

Home Health Compare – www.medicare.gov (all states) Editor's Pick

Home Health Compare is a free search tool from Medicare that gives detailed information about Medicare-certified home health agencies. Search by county or zip code and see performance scores related to home care services. Compare home health agencies on measures related to managing daily activities, pain, teaching patients or their caregivers, getting readmitted to the hospital and more. Five star rating system and actual scores. Patient satisfaction ratings included, with a national average of 78% who would recommend their agency. Report card shows 2020-21 data in the latest federal update February 2022. Part of the federal government Care Compare.

Hospice – Find a Hospice (NHPCO)

Find a hospice or palliative care provider at this site by NHPCO. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) 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, palliative care program or bereavement service.

Hospice Compare – medicare.gov (all states) Editor's Pick

Compare up to 3 hospices at a time at Hospice Compare by Medicare.gov. Site currently reports performance on quality measures related to patient preferences and quality of care in managing pain and treating symptoms, 2019 data. Family satisfaction is also reported, including family training and communication, emotional support, pain management, overall rating of the hospice and willingness to recommend the hospice (national average is that 84% would recommend). Check to see what kinds of patients the hospice tends to serve – for example, cancer, dementia, heart disease, stroke. Site is updated quarterly by CMS. Search by zip code, state or city. All hospice agencies report, or face financial penalties. Published by the federal government. Good, reliable website.  Most measures have data from 2020-2021, as of the February 2022 update.

Hospital Clinic and Office Visit Charges and Medicare Payments 2020

Find Hospital Clinic and Office Visit charges (average price) for 2020, and the payments that Medicare made. Find average charges for about 13,000 different codes (depending whether office or hospital facility-based). National average prices are in a large dataset file. Extremely difficult to use, even if somewhat familiar with using Excel files. File uses HCPCS codes. The most common codes were office visits 99213 (average charge about $149) and 99214 (average charge about $222). Medicare allowed about $72 for code 99213 and about $105 for 99214. Therapeutic exercise (code 97110) had average charge of $63, with Medicare allowing about $26. Lab tests, x-ray, emergency department visits are in the file. An Emergency Department visit (code 99285) had a national average facility charge of $1,201, with Medicare allowing just $174 for the ER visit facility charge. A CBC lab test 85025 had an average charge of $35 (Medicare allowed $8); a blood test coded 88053 had an average charge of $56, with Medicare allowing $10. State by state average prices are also listed. Physician charges may be available in the Provider dataset. Calendar year 2020 data from CMS updated July 2022.

Hospital Compare – 30-day Death Rates, Heart Attack, Heart Failure & CABG Editor's Pick

Find 30-day death rates for cardiac hospitalizations: heart failure, heart attack and CABG patients. Hospital Compare, the federal government site from CMS, shows whether hospitals meet expected 30-day survival rates for heart attack and heart failure Medicare cases. National death rates were 12.4% for heart attack, 11.3% for heart failure and 2.9% for CABG (heart bypass) surgery patients. Compare hospitals in your area. The report identifies if your hospital is significantly better or worse than the national value. Dates of data can be found under the Overall Star Rating: “Learn how Medicare calculates this rating” (get detail).  The data period for these measures was a 3-year period ending 6/30/2021. Updated July 2022.

Hospital Compare – 30-day Death Rates, Pneumonia Patients Editor's Pick

Find 30-death rates for each hospital’s pneumonia patients at Hospital Compare. Federal government site from CMS shows whether hospitals met expected 30-day survival rates for Medicare pneumonia patients. The national Risk-Average adjusted death rates (mortality rates) were not reported nationally this year. Find pneumonia mortality ratings under Complications and Deaths measures. Results were updated October 2022.

Hospital Compare – 30-day Death Rates, Stroke Patients Editor's Pick

Find 30-day death rates for patients with stroke, at Hospital Compare. Select the Complications and Deaths tab after you’ve selected your hospitals. Federal government site from CMS shows whether hospitals met expected 30-day survival rates for Medicare stroke patients. The national Risk-Adjusted death rate (mortality rate) was 13.6% for stroke in the latest reporting period 3 years ending June 2021. Updated 2022. Can also find percent of stroke patients in the emergency department who received a brain scan within 45 minutes of arrival. Listed under “Timely and Effective Care”.

Hospital Compare – at medicare.gov (all states) Hospital star ratings, complications Editor's Pick

Visit Hospital Compare to find hospital star ratings and complications for hospitals in all states. Compare 3 hospitals at one time. Federal government (at medicare.gov) gives 1 to 5 stars and compares hospital ratings for heart attack (AMI), heart failure, pneumonia, COPD, stroke, hip & knee, preventing infections and surgical complications, timeliness of Emergency (ER) dept., use of medical imaging. Most data are from calendar 2021, but may vary by measure. Includes death rate comparisons from heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia, COPD, stroke, CABG; and return to hospital (readmission) rates. Click on Timely & Effective Care, or Complications. Shows patient satisfaction HCAHPS ratings (patient experience opinions) from 2021. Some info on colonoscopies and cataracts. Editor’s Pick because it’s the best of what is out there. The federal government standardized broad ratings for all hospitals, and most ratings are based on more than just Medicare patients. Small volume hospitals will not show data for some measures. Graphs are no longer available. Today’s stars may reflect older data than shown at the website. Read the fine print. Updated October 2022.

Hospital Compare 30-day Death Rates, COPD Patients Editor's Pick

Find 30-day death rates for COPD patients at Hospital Compare. Select the Complications and Deaths tab after you’ve chosen the hospitals you want to compare. Federal government site from CMS shows whether hospitals met expected 30-day survival rates for Medicare COPD patients. The latest reported national Risk-Adjusted death rate (mortality rate) was 8.4% for COPD (3 year period ending 6-30-2021). Updated annually and each July. Updated 2022.

Hospital Ratings at HealthGrades (all states) 2023

HealthGrades Hospital Ratings (5-star, 3-star, 1-star) for 2023 on over 30 diseases & inpatient procedures: Stroke, back surgery, COPD, diabetes, gall bladder surgery, bowel obstruction, GI Bleed, hip fracture repair, hip replacement, total knee replacement, prostate removal, TURP, hysterectomy (listed under gynecologic surgeries), respiratory failure, pneumonia, cardiac bypass, heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty, defibrillator, pacemaker, valve surgery, sepsis, pancreatitis, pulmonary embolism, abdominal aneurysm, stomach surgery, peripheral vascular bypass & more. Probably 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. Publicly-traded company. Most data in 2023 ratings are from Medicare patients, from 2018 to 2020. Patient satisfaction ratings (2020-2021 data) are featured by HealthGrades. One hospital at time, unfortunately. No longer Editor’s Pick, since HealthGrades removed the 3-year patient volume, and actual mortality or complication rates compared to predicted. Mostly, the site shows which ratings awards were given to the hospital by HealthGrades – a fee likely was required for publicizing the award.

Individual Employee Annual Health Insurance Premium Cost – 2021

Average health insurance premium cost was $7,380 per year (about $615 per month) in 2021 for an individual employee. This was up about 3.2% from last year. See table of costs for single person policy. Costs are for employee enrollees. No states managed to come in under $6,000 for a year for one person. Employee contributions were the lowest in Oregon and Hawaii at about $81 per month. Employer contributions picked up the rest of the cost. Employees paid on average $170 per month in Rhode Island, the highest contribution. Average single employee contribution in US was about $137 per mo. ($1,643 per year) or 22% of the total premium; employers paid 78% of single coverage premiums on average. Employers paid the most in Alaska and New York, where total premiums for single employee coverage were over $9,000 and $8,500, respectively. Compare how much a month health insurance costs in each state. Benefit coverage varies by state and policy. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) prepared the tables using MEPS data (Medical Expenditure Panel Study).

Kaiser State Health Facts: Uninsured Rates

Kaiser State Health Facts shows total uninsured rates for the non-elderly by race/ethnicity. Compares ethnic groups on being uninsured. Shows 2019 data. Overall, the US uninsured rate was 10.9%. This represented a worsening by a half-percent compared to 2018. Highest overall uninsured rates were in TX (20.9%); Oklahoma (17.6%), Florida (16.3% uninsured), followed by Georgia (15.5%) and Mississippi (15.4%). Rounding out the top 10 for highest rates of people without insurance were WY, NC, NV, AZ and SC. American Indian/Alaska Native uninsured was 21.7%; Hispanic uninsured was 20%; black uninsured was 11.4%, compared to White uninsured (7.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander uninsured at 7.4%.

Leapfrog Hospital Quality Ratings – For Consumers (all states) Editor's Pick

The Leapfrog Group, an employer-based coalition, asks hospitals to voluntarily report how closely they follow recommended quality and safety practices. CLICK on the Show Info arrow underneath each green bar chart to find additional important information. You will find actual rates of performance,and whether the hospital you’re interested in, meets volume standards for certain complex surgeries. Many, but unfortunately not all hospitals participate; easy to compare. Updated Spring 2022. The period covered is unclear. Leapfrog was a pioneer in getting ratings in the public eye.

Leapfrog Top Ambulatory Surgery Centers for 2022 (Dec. 2022)

Leapfrog named 12 ambulatory surgery centers to its 2022 Top Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) list. The outpatient surgery centers must have responded to Leapfrog’s Ambulatory Surgery Center Survey. The quality standards address staffing, hand hygiene, infection rates, practices for safer surgery, and error prevention. They emphasize patient safety. 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. Published December 2022.

Leapfrog Top Hospitals for 2022 (December 2022)

Leapfrog named 115 hospitals to its 2022 Top Hospitals list, including 12 top children’s hospitals and 13 rural hospitals. Abouat half of the Top Hospital Awards went to teaching hospitals; 32 general hospitals were also on the best hospitals list. Hospitals must have responded to Leapfrog’s Hospital Survey. 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. The measures emphasize patient safety. Published December 2022.

Link to Your State Insurance Department Site (all states)

List of state Insurance Departments for 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, Puerto Rico and the other four U.S. territories. The NAIC site has a Consumer Information Source to find medical loss ratios, financial information, and complaint information on the exchange, HMOs and other health insurance plan providers.

List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) – See Who is Excluded from Medicare Editor's Pick

The List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) is a Medicare fraud prevention site by the HHS Office of Inspector General. It allows consumer to search for a specific name of a person or business to see if they 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. Exclusions Database contains physicians, nurses, nurses’ aides, hospital employees, pharmacists, nursing home operators and more. More than 77,000 names on the list as of April 2023. Updated monthly.

Long Term Care Hospitals – Compare Quality Editor's Pick

Compare quality at long-term care hospitals for inpatient rehab in the US. Site is called Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Compare. These hospitals may also be referred to as long term acute care (LTAC) facilities. Compare 3 hospitals at one time, side by side, on quality measures for each hospital. Infections, complications, percent of staff that got their flu vaccination, effective care, and more. Graph view will show the actual performance results. Most data include calendar year 2021. Provided by Medicare.gov, September 2022.

Lown Institute Hospital Rankings by Quality Outcomes, 2023

Lown Institute hospital rankings for 2023. The hospital quality outcomes list ranks more than 3,600 hospitals. It combines clinical outcomes, patient safety and patient satisfaction. This is one of the easiest-to-use “best hospital” lists. The Outcomes index relies on Medicare inpatient data from 2019 to 2021 as well as some patient satisfaction and other data from 2022. Additional rankings are at this site: Equity and Value. An overall A-B-C-D rating is given to each hospital; it combines all Quality, Equity and Value scores into a “Social Responsibility” rating. Published 2023. The Lown Institute is a Washington, DC-based think tank, and a more recent addition to the hospital rankings business.

Medical Fitness Association: Find an MFA Facility

Find a medical fitness facility. The Medical Fitness Association (MFA) is a non-profit organization that tracks, supports and promotes the industry of medical fitness centers. Facility locator identifies centers worldwide. However, your state may not have any fitness centers that belong to the association. About 137 medical fitness facilities were listed in the US as of October 2022.

Medicare (Inpatient) Prices for Hospitalizations 2020

Medicare inpatient prices for hospitalizations during 2019 are in this difficult to use Excel file. Amounts paid to hospitals by Medicare, on average for 2020 hospital stays, are shown. Listed by DRG and provider. Consumers can see the Medicare volume for that diagnosis and how much the hospital was allowed as Covered Charges, plus what Medicare payments were. If you can wade through it, you’ll see that total payments were quite often only one-fourth of what the covered charges were – a 75% discount. Hence, the file illustrates how hospital pricing (charge) has become meaningless for most people. Here are a few examples. A hip or knee joint replacement (DRG 470) at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, had an average charge of nearly $80,000 for over 2,945 cases. However, the total payment on average was just $23,780, an effective discount of 70% of the total charges. The hospital with the second largest Medicare volume of hip and knee replacements, New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, had an average charge of $26,389, and average total payment of $15,201. Their average discount was “just” 42%. NYU Langone Hospital in NYC, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital (FL) each had effective discounts of about 84%. All four hospitals received total average payments for joint replacement (DRG 470), between $13,000 and $27,500, but average charges ranged from $26,000 to an astounding $177,000. Published July 2022.

Medicare Ambulatory Surgery Allowed Costs – 25 Commonly Performed Procedures

Medicare Ambulatory Surgery Allowed Costs are shown for 25 commonly performed procedures.  This file shows 25 procedure payments by Medicare and what they considered the Allowed Amount. It also shows average amounts Medicare paid to Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) facilities for selected outpatient surgery such as

• spinal injection (example: CPT code 62311 Medicare allowed $377, and paid $297),
• knee arthroscopy (CPT 29881 $1631 allowed cost),
• prostate needle biopsy (CPT code 55700 $670 average allowable cost; $530 average cost paid),
• simple cataract removal & lens insertion ($1,679 allowed; Medicare paid $1,339),
• bunion correction ($1,825 allowed),
• crushing kidney stones ($2,330 allowed),
• large bowel endoscopy ($586 allowed, plus $671 for removal of polyps), and more.

Includes physician fees and payment to the ASC. Confusing file unless you know CPT codes and can use Excel files. Actual prices or charges are not shown. Old 2012 data published Sept. 2013. No updates available. Consumers may wish to add a minimum medical inflation factor of at least 32% to estimate 2022 prices.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans – Cost and Quality Ratings 2023-2024 Editor's Pick

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans – Cost and Quality Ratings for consumers. Compare the prices (monthly premium average cost and annual deductible) for prescription drug coverage through Medicare (medicare.gov).  See which plans have higher ratings. Uses a 5-star quality rating system that includes member satisfaction survey reports. If you put in your actual drugs and pharmacies, your annual prescription drug costs will also show. Updated October 2023. Medicare’s open enrollment for 2024 begins October 15, 2023. Open enrollment will run until December 7, 2023.

Merative (Watson Health) 100 Top Hospitals – 2022 National Winners

Merative (formerly Watson Health) lists names of top 100 hospitals for 2022. The ratings used categories according to size and teaching status using Medicare data primarily from 2019 and 2020, other publicly reported (at HospitalCompare) patient satisfaction scores (HCAHPS) and results such as mortality rates, readmissions, ER times and spending. While no data are shown for individual hospital performance, Watson Health makes a case that as a group these hospitals outperform their peers in quality and efficiency (lower expenses). Free report shows winners’ names only; some winners received the Everest Award for also improving at the fastest rate over a five-year period. Methodology examines survival, complications and readmissions, patient experience; efficiency and profitability from 2,650 eligible hospitals. Published July 2022 by Merative, the new name for the former IBM Watson Health. Watson Health was formerly Truven Health Analytics.

Money Magazine Best Hospitals 2022

Money (magazine) teamed up with The Leapfrog Group to create a new Best Hospitals ranking. Money claims this list of hospitals are those that are best for your money. It is their first attempt at a best hospitals ranking. Only hospitals who completed Leapfrog’s 2021 survey were eligible for consideration. Unfortunately, many hospitals do not participate in Leapfrog’s annual patient safety survey. Published July 2022.

Mountain States Genetics Network

Mountain States Genetics Network provides resources for the diagnosis and management of genetic disorders, including an online directory of genetic support groups. Focus is on services in eight states: AZ, CO, MT, NM, NV, TX, UT and WY

NCQA Health Insurance Plan Ratings and Report Card 2023-2024 Editor's Pick

NCQA ratings and report card for 2023 on health insurance plans. Before you select your plan for 2024, compare quality ratings for HMOs and PPO health insurance plans. Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Humana, Kaiser, United Healthcare – they’re all here, as are many non-profit regional plans. Star ratings and number of enrollees shown for accredited commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans. Two private commercial plans received the highest possible 5-point star rating: Independent Health Association (NY) and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States.  Seventy (70) accredited plans (commercial, Medicare and Medicaid) received ratings of 4.5 stars. 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 October 2023.

Nursing Home Compare (all states) www.medicare.gov 2022 Editor's Pick

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 with 2022 data. If you cannot find the nursing home you’re interested in, the facility might not accept Medicare and Medicaid patients. A one-star rating on the inspections means that nursing home is in the bottom 20% of all nursing homes. 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 Compare is now part of Medicare’s Care Compare mega-site.

Nursing Homes & Assisted Living directory (members in LeadingAge)

Directory to help consumers find nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Browse this database of members in the LeadingAge (formerly American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, AAHSA) to find nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living, adult day care and home & community-based services. Shaped by not-for-profit values

Obesity Rates to 2021, CDC

State-by-state obesity rates for adults from 2019 to 2021. CDC collected self-reported prevalence data shown in the maps through CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Obesity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease. The number of states in which at least 35% of residents have obesity has more than doubled since 2018, as 19 states now have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. Updated September 2022.

Organ Transplants – Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is a secure transplant information database that has all national data on the candidate waiting list, organ donation and matching, and transplantation. Transplant survival rates on a regional basis (1-year, 3-year, 5-year) are compared to national; kidney, pancreas, liver, heart, lung, intestine. Blood type, age, sex and many other comparisons are available. Volume of transplants by transplant center updated year-to-date 2022.

Palliative Care – Provider Program Directory

Hospitals with Palliative Care programs are listed in this provider 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; it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Premier 2022 Awards for excellence and high-value healthcare

Premier announced seven QUEST-participating hospitals received the 2022 QUEST® Awards for High Value health care. An additional 8 hospitals were named as finalists. Announced June 2022.

QIO Listings: Quality Improvement and Innovation Organizations

Find a list of Quality Improvement and Innovation Organizations – QIOs. The mission of the QIO program is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. It has been modified to incorporate Quality Innovation Networks and complaints on behalf of patients and beneficiaries. Find a Quality Improvement Organization here, searchable by state. Updated 2022.

Rehabilitation Hospitals – CARF-Accredited Facilities

Find rehabilitation hospitals that are accredited by CARF – The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF offers the ability to do an online search for accredited facilities with specific rehab programs you may be interested in. Select Program Focus to search for Addictions, Brain Injury, Mental Health, Integrated Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health, Opioid Treatment, Spinal Cord, Stroke Specialty Services, and more. Choose Age Group to search for older adult focus or children. Search engine is either simple (just put in state or zip code) or very complicated because of its detailed program choices. Updated 2022.

State Comparisons: Health Insurance Coverage of Nonelderly 0-64, by state (2019)

Have you ever wondered where the nearly 29 million people under age 65 and without health insurance are located, after the Marketplace Exchange went into effect? Kaiser Family Foundation shows the number uninsured (nonelderly, ages 0 to 64) by state, in 2019. Ten states make up 60% (over 17 million) of the US uninsured under 65: Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania. KFF statehealthfacts.org updated 2020

State Comparisons: Percent of Smokers who Tried to Quit Smoking, 2020

Compare state by state map and table for percent of smokers who tried to Quit Smoking in 2020. Overall 54% tried to quit, US-wide according to the most recent data, about 3 points lower than 2019. What is happening in your state? the District of Columbia and Connecticut had the greatest percentage trying to quit (65% and 63% respectively). Kentucky had the lowest in percent of smokers trying to quit smoking, at 47%. However, 8 states had lower than 50% of smokers trying to quit. Breakouts by racial groups are shown for each state. Generally, Black, Hispanic and Asian populations were much more likely to try to quit than White or Native American groups. From the Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts.

State Health Departments – CDC

The CDC links to all state health departments. Updated 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control

Surgeon Scorecard – Knees, Hips, Gallbladder, Spinal Fusion, Prostate Surgery, Medicare 2015

Surgeon Scorecard for knee, hip, gallbladder, spinal fusion and prostate surgery shows complications for each hospital and doctor. It compares individual surgeons’ complication rates (risk-adjusted) for Medicare patients having one of 8 types of inpatient surgery: hip or knee replacement, laparoscopic gallbladder removal, cervical (neck) or lumbar spinal fusion (either posterior or anterior technique), and prostate resection or removal. Analysis by ProPublica looked at billing records from 2009 to 2013. Numbers of cases shown are MEDICARE-ONLY (although the column title omits that point), and require at least 20 cases for a doctor’s rate to be shown. Physician’s rate combines his/her Medicare cases at all hospitals. Website was somewhat controversial in 2015. Tool is easy to use, but it is just a historical snapshot. Unfortunately, data have not been updated by ProPublica.

Top Critical Access, Rural and Community Hospitals in US, 2022

View the 2022 list of top critical access hospitals (CAHs), rural and community hospitals in the U.S.  Compiled by iVantage Health Analytics, a Chartis Group company, for 2022. Methodology is not readily identified.

Top Dentists – by State, US

From usatopdentists.com, comes this list of top dentists in every state. Ten dental specialties are listed. Search city-specific or statewide within a specialty (including General Dentistry.) Details on dates, methods and how many dentists responded to the survey are unclear (see About Us). Last checked: February 2023.

Transplant Waiting List Editor's Pick

Waiting list numbers of people waiting for a transplant: Kidney, pancreas, liver, intestine, heart, lung transplants. In May 2022, about 90,000 people were waiting for a kidney (18,000 in California alone) and 11,000 for a liver. Survival rates shown by age, sex and ethnicity.

Trauma Programs: Verified Trauma Centers (ACS)

Find hospital trauma programs that are Verified Trauma Centers by ACS. Level I, II and III Trauma Centers are listed here, by city or state (and other international locations), at the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) 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 of five levels. A description of what’s expected to be available at each level can be found at the American Trauma Society.

USNews.com America’s Best Hospitals 2023-2024: Honor Roll (22)

USNews.com identifies 22 America’s Best Hospitals on the 2023-2024 Honor Roll. These top hospitals include Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), Houston Methodist (TX), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles), four hospitals in New York), and 15 other leading medical institutions. These best hospitals ranked favorably in multiple specialties. Over 4,500 hospitals nationwide were evaluated. On a regional level, hundreds more hospitals were ranked as a best hospital near me. Check the details to see specifics for a certain illness, since no single hospital was ranked (by US News) as best in everything. According to the website, “none were rated high performing in all 21 procedures and conditions.” Methodology report shows how the hospitals scored. Outcomes (such as Survival/mortality rate) for Medicare patients and Structure (such as nurse staffing and ICU specialists) are two of the factors used in the rankings for most of the specialties. Reputation assessed by other physicians (“expert opinion”) was the only component used for Ophthalmology, Psychiatry and Rheumatology. 2023-2024 ratings use Medicare data from calendar years 2019-2021, and HCAHPS (patient satisfaction) scores from 2020-21. Published August 1, 2023.

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2023-2024: Cancer Rankings

Best Hospitals Cancer rankings for 2023-2024 from usnews.com. US News & World Report named University of Texas MD Anderson (Houston, TX), Memorial Sloan-Kettering (New York), and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) as their 2023-2024 leaders of the top 50 hospitals for cancer care in the US. (Same as last year.) Scoring includes survival (30-day mortality), professional reputation, designation from the National Cancer Institute and other factors. Minimum number of Medicare cases was 187 (over 3 years, 2019-2021) and 36 for surgery.

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2023-2024: Cardiology and Heart Surgery

Who are the best hospitals in cardiology and heart surgery for 2023-2024, according to the usnews.com rankings?  The top of the Cardiac specialty list are Cleveland Clinic (Ohio), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles) and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Top 50 hospitals ranked. See if there is one in your state. Rankings include survival ratings using Medicare data from 2019 to 2021. Hospitals ranked higher if they participated in public transparency reporting by the medical professional societies. Aortic valve and TAVR surgery are including in the scores and ratings process. Minimum volume of 1,725 Medicare cases over 3 years (2019-2021) and 800 surgeries. Updated August 2023.

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2023-24: Pediatric and Children’s Hospitals

US News & World Report’s top pediatric hospitals for 2023-2024. Best children’s hospitals ranked and rated for pediatric cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; gastroenterology (digestive disorders) & GI surgery; neonatology; nephrology (kidney); neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology (respiratory problems) and lung surgery; and urology. Honor roll of 10 hospitals is led by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Medical Center, (second), and Texas Children’s in Houston (third). Regional pediatric ratings also available. (For example, best children’s hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region was Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.) Ratings called Best Children’s Hospitals updated June 2023. Detailed hospital scores and ranking for individual measures such as survival, are in the Methodology report. Consumers can compare children’s hospital scores side-by-side in Appendix C.

usnews.com: Best Medicare Advantage Health Insurance Company 2023 Rankings

What are the best Medicare Advantage Health Insurance companies for 2023, according to usnews.com? Medicare Advantage health insurance companies are shown by state if their plans – together – achieved an average of 4.5 of 5 stars by Medicare. Rankings use Medicare’s 2023 Star Ratings. Advantage plans combine Part A and Part B.  Nearly every state has a highly rated company. Overall Humana rated the highest in 3 of the top 4 best company categories, nationally. Blue Cross Blue Shield was given the Best Company for size of physician network. On a state by state basis, other plans are listed as having the best Medicare Advantage Plans. Monthly premium, annual deductible and maximum out of pocket costs are given. Announcement made in October 2022 by U.S. News & World Report.

usnews.com: Best Medicare Part D (Drug) Health Plans 2023 Rankings

USnews.com lists Best Medicare Part D (drug) health plan rankings for 2023. No companies had plans that earned 4.5 or 5 stars, on average, from Medicare for Part D (drug) coverage. Just 10 Part D plans received 4 stars. The highest rated plans came from Highmark, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Montana or Wyoming; and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield South Dakota. Uses the CMS Star Ratings.

VA (veterans) Hospitals and Clinics – Wait Times, Satisfaction and Quality Scores Editor's Pick

Compare VA hospitals and clinics on wait times, patient satisfaction and quality scores. Detailed ratings on all of the Veterans Health Administration hospitals using current data. Easy to compare waiting time and access for VA clinics in your area, crossing state lines. Very quick to find how long you might have to wait for primary care, mental health, or other specialty appointments, or whether you can get an appointment at all. Satisfaction ratings, and ratings of outpatient care (depression, heart care, diabetes, cancer screening, smoking cessation, flu vaccination). Access and waiting times are updated for 2022. For comparisons to private hospitals and nursing homes, the VA provides links to the federal HospitalCompare and NursingHomeCompare sites. Website is very user friendly for all types of VA clinics, hospitals, nursing homes. Editor’s Pick.

VA Hospital, Medical Facility Inspection Reports

Find VA hospital and medical facility inspection reports. The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) makes its VA Medical Center inspection reports available online. Types of reports include audits, healthcare investigations, inspections and more. Outpatient clinics and nursing homes are included. Listed by date; use filters on right within each category to select location. Updated 2022.

VA Medical Facilities Locator & Directory – Veterans

Easy to use directory to look up a VA medical facility. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a convenient search tool to find the location of medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Facilities in the US, American Samoa, Philippine Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands are all listed.

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

Check Walmart’s cost for some generic drugs for $4 or $10, although some will cost more. Walmart has implemented a limited-scope program for about 30 generic drugs (with multiple drug/dose combinations) offered at a $4 price for a 30-day supply, or $10 for 90 day supply. About 60 other drugs are listed for $9 or $15 for a 30 day supply. The 90-day supply prices for those drugs are $24, and $38. Albuterol HFA is listed for $24 for a 30-day supply. If dosage is higher for any listed drug, the cost will be higher. Available in all states except North Dakota. However: Due to FAIR PRICING laws in CA and MN, many drugs will carry higher prices, or may not be available. Other states may also carry higher prices. Revised price list dated June 2020 is still in effect November 6, 2022.

Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals – 2022

Watson Health (formerly Truven Health Analytics) 2021 selection of the top 50 cardiovascular hospitals. Top selected hospitals with significant heart care programs are listed in categories: teaching hospitals with cardiovascular residencies, teaching hospitals without such residencies, and community hospitals. List only, organized alphabetically in each category. Study primarily used Medicare data from 2019 and 2020. Data period for some measures were based on the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2020. Consequently, about 7 months of the Covid-19 pandemic period were included in half of the measures. The study examined both clinical outcomes (e.g. survival or mortality, complications, readmissions) and efficiency measures. In addition, pre-pandemic hospital patient experience scores from 2019 were added this year. Released November 2021 by IBM Watson Health.

States and Countries - Selected Listings

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