The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) (with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) are supporting the development of national measurement system for quality, payment and research.
Health data captured mostly in electronic health records (digitized health data) is the data source for much of this new system. Other data like claims, administrative and diagnostic (lab and radiology) will be used as available. But for now, electronic health record data is the most common source.
That means that when you go to the doctor, emergency room, hospital or ambulatory care setting data collected about you is made available for measurement activities that support the health care system and its functions.
The national health care measurement system is called the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). This is how providers of health care services will be rewarded for high quality, low cost and management of health care resources.
So what's in it for consumers of health care?