The major payers in California have teamed up to create a first-of-its-kind, CMS-certified website to rank more than 10,000 physicians across the state.
The website, CAqualityrankings.org, uses data from more than 10 million patients, provided by Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, UnitedHealthcare of California and CMS. It is searchable by physician name, specialty and location and ranks each physician from one to four stars.
"Access to physician information will help equip California consumers with the tools they need to make good health choices and be effective advocates for their own care," Liz Helms, president and CEO of the California Chronic Care Coalition and board member of the California Healthcare Performance Information System, said in a statement. "CAqualityratings.org is a first-of-its-kind consumer resource that can empower the consumer's ability to talk with their physician and compare how other providers are rated throughout California."
The effort was led by the California Healthcare Performance Information System and a physician-led advisory group, which developed the rating methodology. CMS certified the website's rating methodology, as well as its process for physicians to review and correct results.
"The goal is to empower patients to have a conversation with their physician to increase communications and build trust — improving the overall care experience," Parag Agnihotri, MD, chair of the CHPI Physician Advisory Group, said in a statement.
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