More on Physician Cost Profiling

To the Editor: In their article on cost profiling of physicians, Adams et al. (March 18 issue) 1 question the reliability of using episode-grouping software for profiling. In response, the American Medical Association released an open letter stating that “the publication of 'Physician Cost Profiling' confirms that profiling individual physicians on their cost of care, using the tools that are currently available, is woefully inadequate!” 2 Recently, Thomson Reuters conducted a study commissioned by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) that replicated the RAND methodology, using Medicare fee-for-service claims. 3 The results of the new study caution against dismissing the use of episode . . .