Quality measures are used to gauge how well an entity provides care to its patients. Measures are based on scientific evidence and can reflect guidelines, standards of care, or practice parameters. A quality measure converts medical information from patient records into a rate or percentage that allows facilities to assess their performance.

Inpatient Quality Reporting

The Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program (IQR Program) is formerly known as the Reporting Quality Data for Annual Payment Update (RHQDAPU).

The Hospital IQR program is intended to equip consumers with quality of care information to make more informed decisions about healthcare options. It is also intended to encourage hospitals and clinicians to improve the quality of inpatient care provided to all patients. The hospital quality of care information gathered through the program is available to consumers on the Hospital Compare website.

Hospitals can access more information on Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program on the QualityNet website.   

Outpatient Quality Reporting

Under this program, hospitals report data using standardized measures of care to receive the full annual update to their Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) payment rate, effective for payments beginning in calendar year (CY) 2009. The Hospital OQR Program is modeled on the current quality data reporting program for inpatient services, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.

Hospitals can access more information on OQR on the Qualitynet website.