Medicare sent us an email yesterday that—in the world of iffy customer service we tend to get—had us standing up and applauding the agency.
Here's what they had to say...
Choosing a nursing home for you or your loved one can feel overwhelming. Medicare.gov makes it easy to compare nursing homes in your area, so you can choose with confidence. Compare Nursing Homes
So, us being the inquisitive kind, we checked it out. Here's what they're pitching:
What to Know When Comparing Nursing Homes
 | Check out their overall star ratings. The overall rating is based on a nursing home's performance in 3 areas: health inspections, staffing, and how well residents were cared for. |
 | View detailed staffing data, including the staffing levels and turnover rates. |
 | Use the map and distance filter to find nursing home locations near you. |
Sincerely,
The Medicare Team
But, We Found More!
Being able to compare nursing homes is a huge plus, but whoever is in charge at Medicare didn't stop there. They went all in on the comparison tools, offering comparisons for hospitals, doctors & clinicians, home health services, hospice care, dialysis centers, medical equipment suppliers, and long-term care facilities.
Show & Tell
For example, we did a comparison of neurologists in Scottsdale, AZ 85253. What came back was a) quick; b) comprehensive: everything from name and sex to where they went to school and whether or not they take part in Electronic Health Record Technology (the part of doctors' Medicare report cards that checks whether they're using secure, government-certified computer systems to protect and share your health records and make it easier for you to connect with your care team online).
Use This to Your Advantage
The word is that Medicare is just getting started on this, so you can expect more robust information going forward (like doctor ratings). Our verdict? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Worth trying and using. You'll be able to get a clearer picture of what you might expect from a physician or service provider that you're looking for or been referred to.
