New Website Promotes Transparency in Health Care

A new Web-based tool will allow Americans to monitor, measure, and rate the health care system’s performance, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The Health Systems Measurement Project compiles data from policy makers, providers, and the public to develop views on changes in the health care system. The site, which launched May 15, 2012, spans several key areas, including access to care, cost and affordability, prevention, and health information technology. The data can be viewed by population characteristics, including age, gender, income level, insurance coverage, and geography.

The tool allows users to compare national metrics with regional or state metrics, as well as view up to 10 years of past trends. Users can also compare income, race, age, insurance, and other data.

Measures included in the project are updated annually or when new data become available. Data sources include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, and the FDA, among others.

More information on the Health Systems Measurement Project can be found at https://healthmeasures.aspe.hhs.gov.