CMS Expands Healthcare Provider Directory

CMS recently enhanced the Physician Directory tool at http://www.medicare.gov/ with new information about physicians and other healthcare workers in their communities and the services those professionals provide. The new feature, called Physician Compare, expands the doctor-specific information into the suite of informational tools for Medicare beneficiaries and other consumers. The new site, at www.medicare.gov/find-a-doctor, which was required by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, contains information about physicians enrolled in the Medicare program, which include Doctors of Medicine, Osteopathy, Optometry, Podiatric Medicine, and Chiropractic. The site also contains information about other types of health professionals who routinely care for Medicare beneficiaries, including nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, physician assistants, and occupational therapists.