January 15, 2013 1:09PM 

# Open Medicare’s Records 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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[Charles Lane is right](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-lane-shining-a-light-on-medicare-payments/2013/01/14/573f562c-5e6d-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_story.html): federal judge Marcia Morales Howard should lift the 33-year old court order that prevents scrutiny of how health care providers bill Medicare.

Providers claim they have a right to privacy when it comes to how they spend your money and mine. That’s about as absurd as [asking for privacy](http://gawker.com/5975748/the-sheer-gall-of-celebrities-demanding-privacy) in front of [20 million viewers](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/golden-globe-awards-land-20-million-viewers/2013/01/14/3b407900-5e87-11e2-90a0-73c8343c6d61_blog.html) at the Golden Globes.

##### Related Tags 

[Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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