For the first time, anyone can view detailed information on the ownership of more than 7,000 Medicare-certified hospitals with a new data set published by HHS Dec. 20.
Newly published data elements include organizations' Medicare enrollment information and detailed information about each owner, including whether it is an organization or individual and whether it is a direct owner or indirect owner.
HHS said the ownership information can help researchers and enforcement agencies identify owners with histories of poor performance and analyze how market consolidation or changes in ownership affect prices, costs and outcomes. The data installment is the latest from HHS, which in April released data on mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, and changes of ownership from 2016-2022 for hospitals and nursing homes enrolled in Medicare.
"We are pulling back the curtain and letting the sunshine in on hospital and nursing home ownership because it is what the public deserves," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said."As we work to expand access to high-quality, affordable health care, we will make sure there is transparency to ensure that facilities are held accountable and people can make the best-informed decisions on their care."
The data can be accessed here.