Title V, SEC. 5003. NATIONAL MEASURES OF QUALITY PERFORMANCE. 
      (a) In General. The National Quality Management Council shall develop a 
    set of national measures of quality performance, which shall be used to 
    assess the provision of health care services and access to such services. 

      (b) Subject of Measures. National measures of quality performance shall 
    be selected in a manner that provides information on the following 
    subjects: 

        (1) Access to health care services by consumers. 

        (2) Appropriateness of health care services provided to consumers. 

        (3) Outcomes of health care services and procedures. 

        (4) Health promotion. 

        (5) Prevention of diseases, disorders, and other health conditions. 

        (6) Consumer satisfaction with care. 

      (c) Selection of Measures. 

        (1) Consultation. In developing and selecting the national measures of 
      quality performance, the National Quality Management Council shall 
      consult with appropriate interested parties, including 

          (A) States; 

          (B) health plans; 

          (C) employers and individuals purchasing health care through regional 
        and corporate alliances; 

          (D) health care providers; 

          (E) the National Quality Consortium established under section 5009; 

          (F) individuals distinguished in the fields of law, medicine, 
        economics, public health, and health services research; 

          (G) the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research; 

          (H) the Director of the National Institutes of Health; and 

          (I) the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration. 

        (2) Criteria. The following criteria shall be used in developing and 
      selecting national measures of quality performance: 

          (A) Significance. When a measure relates to a specific disease, 
        disorder, or other health condition, the disease, disorder, or 
        condition shall be of significance in terms of prevalence, morbidity, 
        mortality, or the costs associated with the prevention, diagnosis, 
        treatment, or clinical management of the disease, disorder, or 
        condition. 

          (B) Range of services. The set of measures, taken as a whole, shall 
        be representative of the range of services provided to consumers of 
        health care by the individuals and entities described in subsection 
        (a). 

          (C) Reliability and validity. The measures shall be reliable and 
        valid. 

          (D) Undue burden. The data needed to calculate the measures shall be 
        obtained without undue burden on the entity or individual providing the 
        data. 

          (E) Variation. Performance with respect to measures that are 
        applicable to each category of individual or entity described in 
        subsection (a) shall be expected to vary widely among individuals or 
        entities in the category. 

          (F) Linkage to health outcome. When a measure is a rate of a process 
        of care, the process shall be linked to a health outcome based upon the 
        best available scientific evidence. 

          (G) Provider control and risk adjustment. When a measure is an 
        outcome of the provision of care, the outcome shall be within the 
        control of the provider and one with respect to which an adequate risk 
        adjustment can be made. 

          (H) Public health. The measures may incorporate standards identified 
        by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for meeting public health 
        objectives. 

      (d) Updating. The National Quality Management Council shall review and 
    update the set of national measures of quality performance annually to 
    reflect changing goals for quality improvement. The Board shall establish 
    and maintain a priority list of performance measures that within a 5-year 
    period it intends to consider for inclusion within the set through the 
    updating process.