On Aug. 21, Aetna announced that physician-specific information on healthcare costs, clinical quality, and efficiency is now available to its members. The roll-out gives online access to price, clinical quality, and efficiency information for physicians in 12 geographic regions: Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Connecticut; Dayton, Ohio; South Florida; southeast Indiana; northern Kentucky; Maryland; Springfield, Ohio; northern Virginia; and Washington, D.C. Price information only is available for physicians in Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh.
The physician-specific clinical quality and efficiency information is taken from Aetna’s Aexcel network option, designed to help consumers select specialists and mitigate increases in medical costs. Aexcel-designated specialists undergo an evaluation process that reviews their care based on measures of clinical performance and efficiency, including prevalence of complications and repeat procedures. Aetna members will see the actual rates specific to their health plan for office visits, diagnostic tests, minor procedures, major procedures, and other services. Rate information is included for up to 30 of the most widely accessed services by specialty. For physicians who are Aexcel-designated, the web page will show whether he or she has met the Aexcel criteria for clinical performance, efficiency, and volume of Aetna members treated.
