United States. Congress

“ Consultation on selection of endorsed quality measures.—A consensus-based entity that has entered into a contract under section 1890 shall, as part of such contract, convene multi-stakeholder groups to provide recommendations on the selection of individual or composite quality measures, for use in reporting performance information to the public or for use in public health care programs. ”

“ Consensus-based entity.—The term ‘consensus-based entity’ means an entity with a contract with the Secretary under section 1890. `` (2) Quality measure.—The term ‘quality measure’ means a national consensus standard for measuring the performance and improvement of population health, or of institutional providers of services, physicians, and other health care practitioners in the delivery of health care services. ”

“ Considerations in setting national priorities.—With respect to such priorities, the Secretary shall ensure that priority is given to areas in the delivery of health care services in the United States that— `` (1) contribute to a large burden of disease, including those that address the health care provided to patients with prevalent, high-cost chronic diseases; `` (2) have the greatest potential to decrease morbidity and mortality in this country, including those that are designed to eliminate harm to patients ”