Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | Center for Effective Government

Medicare Data Is Informing Public Understanding of Health Care

May 22, 2014 by Leslie Haymon

The April release of Medicare’s vast trove of payment data has triggered a torrent of reports illustrating just how useful this data can be for patients and providers. While many of the articles have focused on how much Medicare pays doctors, the data have also provided valuable context for broader pieces on the state of American health care.

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Medical Mistake Reporting System Could Make Health Care Safer

Nov 13, 2012 by Gavin Baker

Victims of mistakes at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies could soon have a way to report their experiences to the federal government. This new effort could make health care safer for everyone. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing to create a consumer reporting system for patient safety events.

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Why "Obamacare" Supporters Need to Care about the Health of the Regulatory System

Jun 28, 2012 by Jessica Randall

By now, you’ve almost certainly heard about the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in “the health care case” (National Federation of Independent Businesses v. Sebelius). In short, the majority ruled that the mandate is a legitimate exercise of Congress’s power to tax and that financial incentives can be used to encourage states to expand Medicaid eligibility.

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U.S. Scores Poorly on Transparency of Foreign Aid Spending

Oct 7, 2010 by Gavin Baker

A new comparative study of development aid finds the U.S. among the least transparent of the world's donors.

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