More on WSJ suit to get Medicare records

Claude Solnik of the Long Island Business News has a story Wednesday with more information about the Wall Street Journal‘s lawsuit arguing that records showing how much doctors are paid from the federal Medicare system should be disclosed for public review.

Solnik writes, “The AMA, however, argues that publications and the public in general have no right to information regarding physicians’ financial records.

“‘Physicians, like all Americans, have the right to privacy and due process, and should not suffer the consequences of having false or misleading conclusions drawn from complex Medicare data that has significant limitations,’ AMA President Dr. Cecil B. Wilson said.

“The Wall Street Journal argues taxpayers are entitled to find out how their money is being spent. Scrutiny, the publication argues, would only shed light and provide an added layer of security.

“‘It is in the interests of law-abiding practitioners that those who are gaming the system are exposed,’ Robert Thomson, editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal, said in a written statement. ‘Unless funds are used efficiently and intelligently, the health of the nation, physically and fiscally, will be undermined.'”

Read more here.