Principles to Guide Physician Performance Reporting: Leading consumer, employer and labor organizations recently announced a comprehensive national agreement with leading physician groups and health insurers. They have developed a guide on how health plans measure a doctors' performance-reporting the information to consumers.
The "Patient Charter for Physician Performance Measurement, Reporting and Tiering Programs" creates a national set of principles to guide measuring and reporting for consumers on a doctors' performance.
Once implemented, the Patient Charter will ensure that:
- Consumers can make more informed decisions based on both quality and cost, with adequate guidance about how to use the information and any limitations in the data.
- Measurement is based on sound national standards and methodology.
- Both consumers and physicians have input into the measurement process and how results are reported. This will help ensure that information is trusted by physicians and meaningful to consumers.
- Measurement is a transparent process so that both consumers and physicians can understand the basis upon which performance is being measured and reported.
- Physicians have adequate notice and opportunity to correct any errors. There will be no surprises.
- Physicians will have information that helps them improve the quality of care they provide.
