Online database shows health program spending

The public can see online how the state spent $5.4 billion dollars in Medicaid funds last year. The information comes from the 25 million claims paid to nearly 30,000 health care providers.

The S.C. Department of Health and Human Services put the searchable database on its Web site, www.scdhhs.org. Medicaid provides health coverage to about 800,000 poor and disabled residents; and for every dollar the state sets aside for Medicaid, the federal government provides $3.

The largest amount, more than $843 million, went to in-patient hospital services. The largest portion of that, more than $116 million, went to treat 7,740 beneficiaries at Charleston's Medical University Hospital.

People can search the Web site by county, name of provider or type of provider, such as physician, dentist, nursing home and hospital. In addition to dollar amounts, the database lists the number of patients each provider serves and the average paid per visit.

"This kind of spending transparency is key to ensuring accountability from government agencies and those who get paid by them," Health and Human Services Department Director Emma Forkner said.

Information from the database can be used to locate Medicaid providers in a particular region of the state and will assist the agency in identifying unusual billing patterns.

A study of billing trends last year identified 13 psychiatrists billing for more than 12 hours of face-to-face counseling per day, said Jeff Stensland, director of public information for the state's Medicaid agency. The state received collections for overpayment from all 13; and two psychiatrists and two counseling centers were convicted of fraud, Stensland said.

Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.