Medicare’s big payouts

last updated 8 January 2015

A single Florida ophthalmologist was reimbursed nearly $21 million for Medicare services in 2012, according to the most detailed data released in the federal program’s 50-year history. In the same year, just 100 doctors received a total of $610 million in reimbursements, while fewer than 1,000 radiation oncologists received payments totaling $1.1 billion. The payment data was released after a court order lifted an injunction requested by the American Medical Association, which has fought to keep it secret since 1979. “There’s going to be lot of litigation over this,” said lawyer Steven F. Grover, who represents various medical whistleblowers who have sued doctors and hospitals for committing alleged fraud against the Medicare program.