“Stand for Quality commends Congress for extending funding for quality measurement as part of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (H.R. 4302). H.R. 4302 provides crucial funding for quality measure endorsement, input, and selection — work that currently is being done by the National Quality Forum.

Investment in accurate, patient-centered quality measurement in health care has resulted in significant improvements in health outcomes and cost savings. Moreover, ensuring the participation of multiple stakeholders in the development, endorsement and selection of quality measures leads to greater efficiencies across federal payment programs. Sustained funding for quality measure endorsement by a consensus-based entity is critical to maintaining and advancing this progress.

Stand for Quality continues to strongly support the advancement of a bipartisan compromise on legislation to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) permanently and to move Medicare toward a payment system that rewards provision of high quality care for all patients. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to achieve a Medicare payment system that results in higher quality care, improved health outcomes, and lower costs.”