Two National Quality Organizations Merge
The National Quality Forum and the National Committee on Quality Health Care on Tuesday merged to become a new organization that will be called the National Quality Forum, CQ HealthBeat reports. According to CQ HealthBeat, the merger of the health care quality organizations "comes as lawmakers and health policy experts are placing a greater focus on developing quality measures for physicians and other health care providers in an effort to link the quality of care provided with the amount of money the federal government pays providers."
Janet Corrigan, former CEO and president of NCQHC, will serve as CEO and president of NQF. Corrigan said she will work collaboratively with lawmakers and medical societies to develop quality measures. She added that by working together, the two groups will be able to "define a little bit more clearly what each of the various players is doing so there isn't quite so much overlap. We can better target our efforts and have a greater impact."
According to Corrigan, the organizations "have very complementary portfolios" (Carey, CQ HealthBeat, 2/28).