42 U.S.C. § 280j–1 — Collection and analysis of data for quality and resource use measures

(a) In general. The Secretary must create an overall plan for publicly reporting performance information, as described in section 280j–2. The plan can include timelines for collecting, combining, and analyzing data the same way nationwide. The Secretary must collect and combine consistent data on quality and resource use from the information systems that support health care, and may give grants or contracts to help do this. The Secretary must line up this work with health information technology rules that were in effect on March 23, 2010. Over time, the Secretary must make sure this data covers more and more types of patients, providers, and places. (b) Grants or contracts for data collection. The Secretary may give grants or contracts to help entities start or improve their collection and combination of quality and resource use measures under subsection (c). To qualify, an entity must: (A) be one of three types — a group of many stakeholders that coordinates how quality and cost data gets reported consistently; an entity that can submit that kind of summary data for a specific population and providers, like a disease registry or health plan group; or a federal Indian Health Service program or tribal health program; (B) help the data systems it uses improve and coordinate patient care; (C) give health care providers and other groups timely, consistent quality and cost information, and let providers fix wrong data; and (D) agree to report its quality and resource measures to the public the way the Secretary sets up under section 280j–2. (c) Consistent data aggregation. The Secretary can only give grants or contracts to entities whose summary data can be combined and compared across different sources. The Secretary must set rules to protect the security and privacy of patient data. (d) Matching funds. The Secretary cannot give a grant or contract unless the entity agrees to provide $1 of non-federal money for every $5 of federal money. This matching money can come directly or through donations, and can be cash or things like equipment or services. (e) Authorization of appropriations. Congress may spend whatever money is needed to carry out this section for 2010 through 2014.