7 Performance Measures Essential for ACOs, Other Payment Reforms

Tags: accountable care organization | ACO performance measures | National Quality Forum | RAND

A RAND report commissioned by the National Quality Forum listed seven types of performance measures essential for payment reforms such as those undertaken by accountable care organizations, according to a release by NQF.

1. Outcome measures focusing on patient results, from avoidable harms to improved health.

2. Care coordination measures measuring appropriate follow-up care to keep patients on track to improved health.

3. Patient engagement measures assessing whether patients are empowered to improve health.

4. Organizational capability measures to assess whether accountable care organizations, medical homes and other new systems are sufficient to deliver high quality care.

5. Composite measures combining results of individual measures into an overall indicator of quality, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of care.

6. Efficiency measures combining quality and resource use measures.

7. Disparity measures ensuring cost-cutting efforts don't inadvertently favor certain kinds of patients.

Read the NQF release on performance measures.

Read the full RAND report on performance measures.

Read more coverage on measuring performance of ACOs:

- Research Reveals Top Drivers, Challenges of Commercial ACOs

- Analytics for ACOs: Measuring the Depth Before Diving In

- 5 Considerations for Forming an ACO

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