CMS, AHIP Announce Quality Measurements For Physicians
The federal officials and insurers involved say the measures will help simplify and standardize the health industry in terms of rating the quality of care patients are receiving.
The Washington Post:
Federal Health Officials, Insurers Agree On How To Rate Doctors’ Quality
For the first time, the Medicare program and the health insurance industry have agreed on a set of ratings to gauge how well doctors do their jobs. Leaders of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans announced Tuesday that they have reached a consensus on how to measure physician quality in seven medical areas, from primary care to treatment of patients with cancer or AIDS. (Goldstein, 2/16)
Modern Healthcare:
CMS And AHIP's Quest To Tame The Wilds Of Healthcare Quality Measures
The Obama administration and health insurers took a step Tuesday toward standardizing and improving the measures that are intended to gauge the quality of healthcare but are widely criticized as too burdensome for providers and too numerous or irrelevant to be much help to consumers. (Evans, 2/16)
The Associated Press:
A Step Forward For Measuring Health Care Quality
The government, doctors' groups, insurers and patient advocates say they're coming together on a common set of measurements for what constitutes quality health care. A collaborative representing the various players Tuesday released quality measures for seven broad areas: primary care, cardiology, digestive system, HIV and hepatitis C, medical oncology, orthopedics, and obstetrics and gynecology. (2/16)
CQ Roll Call:
Medicare And Insurance Industry Officials Agree On Quality Metrics
Public and private health insurance providers on Tuesday announced a new set of quality measurements meant to make reporting requirements for doctors and care providers more consistent and efficient. By easing the reporting complexity for clinicians, insurers are also hoping to bring down costs for themselves and consumers. While individual payers currently utilize their own measurements, insurers have come together to agree on core measures in seven areas. The effort was led by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group. (Siddons, 2/16)
Kaiser Health News:
Insurers And Medicare Agree On Measures Tracking Doctors’ Quality
The federal government and the insurance industry released on Tuesday an initial set of measures of physician performance that they hope will reduce the glut of conflicting metrics doctors now must report. The measures are intended to make it easier for Medicare, patients, insurers and employers to assess quality and determine pay. (Rau, 2/16)