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Table 2 List of attributes used in our analysis based on the data collected (continued from Table 1)

From: Provider attributes correlation analysis to their referral frequency and awards

Category

Attribute

Description

Source

HCPCS Information

Procedure Types

A set of binary attributes, one for each type of procedure performed by the provider. HCPCS cover anything billable to Medicare, from new visits to transplants.

CMS

Relative Cost of Procedures

The relative cost of the provider’s procedures, normalized to [0,1] by all providers within a 30 mile radius.

CMS

Relative Procedure Volume

The relative volume of the provider’s procedures, normalized to [0,1].

CMS

Number of HCPCS Beneficiaries

Number of beneficiaries for all HCPCSs for the provider.

CMS

Prescriber Information

Prescription Types

The types of drugs prescribed by the provider (brand and generic names handled separately).

CMS

Number of Rx Beneficiaries

Number of Medicare beneficiaries from the prescriber dataset.

CMS

Hospital Affiliations

Affiliated Hospital Score

The maximum score from the provider’s hospital affiliations, where the score of each hospital affiliation depends upon the provider’s specialties and U.S. News scoring of hospitals.

CMS (to get hospitals) and U.S. News (for score of hospitals)

Number of Affiliated Hospitals

Number of hospital affiliations for the provider.

 

Insurance

Number of Accepted Insurances

Number of insurers accepted by the provider.

Vitals.com and Healthgrades.com

Individual Insurers

A set of attributes, one for each insurer accepted by the provider, e.g., Humana.

Vitals.com and Healthgrades.com

Medical Experience

Medical School Rank

Ranking of the provider’s medical school by primary care rating.

CMS and U.S. News

Years of Experience

The difference between 2014 and the year the provider graduated medical school.

CMS

Credentials

The provider’s credentials, e.g., MD, DO, FACP, etc.

CMS

Residency Rank

Ranking of the provider’s residencies by primary care rating.

Healthgrades.com and U.S. News

Fellowship Rank

Ranking of provider’s fellowships by primary care rating.

Healthgrades.com and U.S. News

Number of Residencies

Number of the provider’s residencies.

Healthgrades.com

Number of Fellowships

Number of the provider’s fellowships.

Healthgrades.com

Disciplinary Information

Number of Malpractices

Number of malpractices of the provider.

Healthgrades.com

Number of Sanctions

Number of sanctions of the provider.

Healthgrades.com

Number of Board Actions

Number of disciplinary board actions of the provider.

Healthgrades.com

Average Ratings from Patient Reviews

Patient Review Ratings

A set of attributes based on user reviews: Overall Rating, Ease of Appointment, Follows Up After Visit, Promptness, Spends Time with Me, Courteous Staff, Bedside Manner, and Accurate Diagnosis.

Merge reviews from Vitals.com and Healthgrades.com

Number of Patient Reviews

Number of patient reviews for the provider.

Vitals.com and Healthgrades.com