Increased availability of health data through the U.S. Government’s Open Data Initiative has provided researchers, policymakers, and the general public with access to dozens of new datasets. Despite the increased availability, the data are often cumbersome to work with and few tools exist that present the data in ways that are useful for the public and decision-makers.
We created a web-based data visualization and mapping tool, the Medicare Data Portal, to simplify access to this rich data source.
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| Comparison map where HRRs with high prevalence of Diabetes and low A1C Testing are displayed in Red |
The Medicare Data Portal engages decision-makers and researchers with county and Hospital Referral Region (HRR) data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Geographic Variation database and the Chronic Conditions Warehouse. The tool allows users to visualize health outcome, cost, and demographic data for the Medicare population using maps, graphs, and trend charts. Users also have the ability to examine the relationship between two indicators (for example, Inpatient Costs and Diabetes) with side-by-side maps and a comparison tool that uses percentiles to visualize the relationship between variables.
The Medicare Data Portal can also be used simultaneously with other tools to explore relationships between hospital-level indicators and county and HRR-level Medicare indicators. The portal can be used as a resource for policymakers and researchers concerned with Medicare spending and the relationships between Medicare costs and health outcomes.
Where can I try it?
Visit HealthLandscape at http://www.HealthLandscape.org
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| Select "Medicare Data Portal" from the HealthLandscape Tools |
Want to Learn More?
Learn more about HealthLandscape with our online Webinars and Training
In-depth instruction on using HealthLandscape tools and additions to our ever-growing data library
