Best Match Search uses sophisticated techniques and algorithms to match doctors with the claims that are associated with their treatment of your selected reason for seeing a doctor. However, even after taking all reasonable measures to ensure that doctors are matched with their associated claims, there may be cases where claims are matched incorrectly. As with any health-related decision, you should discuss and agree with your doctor on a treatment approach that meets your specific needs.
Best Match Search
Information regarding the number of cases treated, typical cost without insurance, and services delivered with the percentage of patients receiving each service comes from a claims database containing commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims data, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two-year period. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into a doctor's practice, not a full picture of the practice. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach. Please note that the services and medications shown may not be appropriate for your particular needs.
Best Match Search uses sophisticated techniques and algorithms to match doctors with the claims that are associated with their treatment of your selected reason for seeing a doctor. However, even after taking all reasonable measures to ensure that doctors are matched with their associated claims, there may be cases where claims are matched incorrectly. As with any health-related decision, you should discuss and agree with your doctor on a treatment approach that meets your specific needs.
Best Match Score
Best Match Search uses the information you enter in steps 1 through 3 on the previous page to create a match score for doctors who match or closely match your personal profile and preferences.
First, Best Match Search creates a group of candidate doctors to evaluate. This candidate group is created based on the information you specified in these five areas:
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Reason for seeing a doctor – Only doctors who have treated at least one case for your reason for seeing a doctor is included in the candidate group.
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Type of doctor:If you selected a specific doctor type, only doctors of that type are included.
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Doctor's distance from your zip code: If you input a zip and distance, only doctors within your selected distance are included. The population center of the zip code that you enter is used as a starting point. The mileage you select is then applied to that center.
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Doctor is your gender: If you chose a gender and you indicate that it is important to you, OR if you indicated that seeing a doctor of your same gender is important to you, only doctors of your gender are included.
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Doctor accepts your insurance: If you indicated that it is important to you that a doctor must accept your insurance, only doctors who accept your insurance are included.
Second, Best Match Search calculates a match score for each of the doctors in the candidate group. Each doctor’s match score is calculated based on whether you indicate that these preferences are important to you – if you indicate that any of these preferences is important to you, Best Match Search will give doctors who meet those preferences a higher match score:
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Treats a lot of patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor
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Treats a lot of patients for your reason for seeing a doctor who also have your selected related condition
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Treats a lot of patients in your age range
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Treats a lot of patients who are your gender
The match score for each of these items is an assessment of the number of patients a doctor has seen, based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two-year period. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into a doctor's practice, not a full picture of the practice. The match score and other information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach.
Since doctors who practice in rural areas may see fewer patients for a specific condition than doctors who practice in major metropolitan areas, a specific doctor is compared to the average for doctors in your local area. For example, the Best Match Search claims database may indicate that a doctor practicing in western Nebraska has treated 19 cases of a knee fracture over a two-year time period and that doctor may receive a high score because the average number of knee fracture cases treated in that area is 11 cases over a two-year time period. However, the Best Match Search claims database may indicate that a doctor practicing in Minneapolis, MN has treated 56 cases of knee fracture over a two-year time period and that doctor may receive a lower score because the average number of knee fracture cases in that area is 67 cases over a two-year time period.
Third, for each doctor in the candidate group, Best Match Search combines the match score for each preference you identified as being important to you to create an overall match score with a possible total of 100 points. Doctors with higher match scores appear at the top of the list.
How did we generate these numbers for frequency?
For some doctors Best Match Search presents you with information regarding the number of cases a doctor has treated over a two year time period, compared to national averages. This information is currently available for approximately 300,000 doctors in the US, and is based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims. It is important to note, while the database includes claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two year time period, the database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into the practices of those doctors for whom there are claims in the Best Match Search database. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach. In addition, Since the Best Match Search claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US; national averages based on these claims represent a partial picture of national averages that would be generated by using every claim submitted by every doctor.
- Cases with Patients in Your Age Range – This shows the number of cases a doctor has treated for your selected reason for seeing a doctor over a two-year time period, and the national average number of cases treated by doctors over the same two-year time period. This number is based on the claims database described above.
- Cases with Patients with Your Related Condition – This shows the number of cases a doctor has treated for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, where the patients also had your same related condition, over a two-year time period, and the national average number of cases treated by doctors over the same two-year time period. This number is based on the claims database described above. If you did not identify a related condition in step 2 on the first page, this information does not appear on this page.
- Cases with Patients Matching Your Profile – This shows the number of cases a doctor has treated, where patients met your complete personal profile (your selected reason for seeing a doctor, your related condition, age, and gender), and the national average number of cases with patients like you treated by doctors over the same two-year period. This number is based on the claims database described above.
How did we generate these numbers for typical cost without insurance?
For some doctors Best Match Search presents you with information regarding the services a doctor typically includes when treating patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, as well as typical cost without insurance. This information is currently available for approximately 300,000 doctors in the US, and is based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims. It is important to note, while the database includes claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two year time period, the database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into the practices of those doctors for whom there are claims in the Best Match Search database. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach.
Typical cost without insurance – This shows total cost, without applying any insurance benefits, for treating your selected reason for seeing a doctor. This total amount includes charges that may not be directly associated with a doctor, such as facility charges.
The foundation for calculating typical cost without insurance is the claims database described above. Those claims are analyzed to determine average billed amounts associated with treating your selected reason for seeing a doctor. The amount you see represents costs at the 80th percentile – this means that most of the time, the total charged amounts were actually somewhat less than the average billed amount shown.
The costs presented to you are intended to give you a general idea of the costs associated with treating your selected reason for seeing a doctor. Costs associated with treating your specific situation may vary considerably from the costs shown. In addition, your actual out-of-pocket costs are totally dependent on your specific health insurance benefit plan.
Services Delivered
This shows the services typically associated with a doctor's treatment of patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, based on your personal profile and the preferences you indicate are important to you. This information is based on the claims database described above. Services shown are associated with the full treatment of your selected reason for seeing a doctor. Some services may not be delivered personally by the doctor, such as room and board services associated with a procedure.
Please note that the services shown may not be appropriate for your particular needs. As with any health-related decision, you should discuss and agree with your doctor on a treatment approach that meets your specific needs.
How did we generate these numbers for services?
For some doctors Best Match Search presents you with information regarding the services a doctor typically includes when treating patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, as well as average billed amounts. This information is currently available for approximately 300,000 doctors in the US, and is based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims. It is important to note, while the database includes claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two year time period, the database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into the practices of those doctors for whom there are claims in the Best Match Search database. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach.
Services Provided
This shows the services a doctor typically includes when treating patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, based on your personal profile and the preferences you indicate are important to you. This information is based on the claims database described above. Services shown are associated with the full treatment of your selected reason for seeing a doctor. Some services may not be delivered personally by the doctor, such as room and board services associated with a procedure.
Please note that the services shown may not be appropriate for your particular needs. As with any health-related decision, you should discuss and agree with your doctor on a treatment approach that meets your specific needs.
Typical cost without insurance
This shows total cost, without applying any insurance benefits, for treating your selected reason for seeing a doctor. This total amount includes charges that may not be directly associated with a doctor, such as facility charges.
The foundation for calculating typical costs is the claims database described above. Those claims are analyzed to determine average billed amounts associated with treating your selected reason for seeing a doctor. The amount you see represents costs at the 80th percentile – this means that most of the time, the total charged amounts were actually somewhat less than the calculated average billed amount shown.
The costs presented to you are intended to give you a general idea of the costs associated with treating your selected reason for seeing a doctor. Costs associated with treating your specific situation may vary considerably from the costs shown. In addition, your actual out-of-pocket costs are totally dependent on your specific health insurance benefit plan.
How did we generate these numbers for medications?
For some doctors Best Match Search presents you with information regarding the medications a doctor typically prescribes when treating patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor. This information is currently available for approximately 300,000 doctors in the US, and is based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims. It is important to note, while the database includes claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two year time period, the database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into the practices of those doctors for whom there are claims in the Best Match Search database. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach.
Frequently Prescribed Medications
This shows the medications a doctor typically prescribes when treating patients for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, based on your personal profile and the preferences you indicate are important to you. This information is based on the claims database described above.
Please note that the medications shown may not be appropriate for your particular needs. As with any health-related decision, you should discuss and agree with your doctor on a treatment approach that meets your specific needs.
How did we generate these numbers for patients like you?
For some doctors Best Match Search presents you with information regarding the number of cases a doctor has treated over a two year time period, compared to national averages. This information is currently available for approximately 300,000 doctors in the US, and is based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims. It is important to note, while the database includes claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two-year time period, the database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into the practices of those doctors for whom there are claims in the Best Match Search database. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach. In addition, Since the Best Match Search claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, national averages based on these claims represent a partial picture of national averages that would be generated by using every claim submitted by every doctor.
Cases with Patients in Your Age Range
This shows the number of cases a doctor has treated for your selected reason for seeing a doctor over a two-year time period, and the national average number of cases treated by doctors over the same two-year time period. This number is based on the claims database described above.
Cases with Patients with Your Related Condition
This shows the number of cases a doctor has treated for your selected reason for seeing a doctor, where the patients also had your same related condition, over a two-year time period, and the national average number of cases treated by doctors over the same two-year time period. This number is based on the claims database described above. If you did not identify a related condition in step 2 on the first page, this information does not appear on this page.
This shows the number of cases a doctor has treated, where patients met your complete personal profile (your selected reason for seeing a doctor, your related condition, age, and gender), and the national average number of cases with patients like you treated by doctors over the same two-year period. This number is based on the claims database described above.
How did we generate these numbers for patients treated for your reason for seeing a doctor?
For some doctors Best Match Search presents you with information regarding the mix (gender and age ranges) of patients a doctor has treated over a two year time period. This information is currently available for approximately 300,000 doctors in the US, and is based on a very large database that contains commercial (non-Medicare) medical, lab, and pharmacy claims. It is important to note, while the database includes claims, representing over 25 million patients who have visited a doctor over a two year time period, the database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US. Since the claims database does not contain every claim submitted by every doctor in the US, the claims represent a partial window into the practices of those doctors for whom there are claims in the Best Match Search database. The information presented to you is derived from that partial window, giving you some indication of a doctor's profile that, in conjunction with other information, you may choose to use in your doctor selection approach.
Gender of Patients
This shows the percentage of patients, by gender, a doctor has treated for your selected reason for seeing a doctor over a two-year time period. This number is based on the claims database described above.
Ages of Patients
This shows the percentage of patients, by age range, a doctor has treated for your selected reason for seeing a doctor over a two-year time period. This number is based on the claims database described above.