Clinical Data Registries: HHS Could Improve Medicare Quality and Efficiency through Key Requirements and Oversight.

摘要

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 instructed HHS to establish a new program to designate 'qualified' CDRs--entities that would work with physicians treating Medicare patients to collect clinical information and use it to improve the quality and efficiency of care. The act also mandated GAO to report on the potential for CDRs to improve quality and efficiency. This report examines (1) improvements demonstrated by CDRs in quality and efficiency of care, (2) HHS's plans for requirements and oversight for qualified CDRs, (3) actions HHS could take to facilitate the development of qualified CDRs, and (4) actions HHS could take to facilitate CDRs' use of health IT. GAO reviewed relevant studies and documents, and interviewed HHS and CDR officials. GAO also convened an expert meeting with the assistance of the Institute of Medicine and synthesized input from experts and other sources to assess the likely effect of potential program requirements, approaches to oversight, and other actions HHS could take.