Insurers can now purchase access to an extensive Medicare claims database to help them create report cards that evaluate providers on quality, reports FierceHealthcare. Under a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), insurers and other qualified entities can spend $40,000 for the first year to extract Medicare claims data to measure provider performance. "This is a giant step forward in making our health care system more transparent and promoting increased competition, accountability, quality and lower costs," acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said. However, insurers must confidentially share its measures, methodology, and results with providers at least 60 days before making them public so they have time to request corrections, if needed. Article