Regional Leader Information
Website: www.checkbook.org
Region: District of Columbia
Covered Counties: The District
Contact: Kevin Brasler
Email: kbrasler@checkbook.org
Consumers’ Checkbook is an independent, nonprofit consumer organization. It has for 40 years been an innovator in providing consumers information to help them select high-quality services, including physicians and hospitals. Checkbook created the first-ever website to report surgeon-specific outcomes in terms of deaths and complications for a wide range of high-risk surgeries. It provides its evaluations of physicians and hospitals on its websites SurgeonRatings.org, GuidetoHospitals.org, and GuidetoTopDoctors.org. Its evaluations at HealthPlanRatings.org provides information to help consumers in five states select the best health plan through government healthcare exchanges.
Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org are published in seven metro areas: the Boston, Chicago, Delaware Valley, Puget Sound, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Twin Cities, and Washington, DC, areas. Checkbook evaluates the quality and prices of local service companies and stores, such as auto repair shops, plumbers, dentists, banks, and insurance companies. Checkbook has won the National Press Club’s prestigious First Place Award for Excellence in Consumer Journalism.