The rise of consumer-driven health care passed a milestone on Feb. 21, when, for the first time, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, posted on its Physician Compare website performance scores on quality measures for 66 physician group practices and 141 accountable care organizations. For example, consumers can now see how well these groups control blood sugar and blood pressure of patients with diabetes.

These types of transparency and accountability are viewed as important goals, but questions remain about the disclosure of this data. Namely, do these measures accurately describe the quality of care delivered and is the information useful to patients?

What is physician compare?

The Affordable Care Act required that CMS make information regarding physician performance and patient experience measures publicly available through Physician Compare. Since 2011, Physician Compare has published basic biographical information about physicians.

Originally published in Law Week Colorado - March 31, 2014.