National standards to rank physicians planned

New York Times, April 2, 2008

Doctors and health insurers have announced they will develop a national set of standards to measure physician performance. The agreement to develop the standards represents a significant compromise between major physician groups and the nation's health insurers. Insurers say they will abide by the standards and rank doctors on the basis of both the cost and quality of care they provide to their patients. The insurers also say they will allow independent parties to review their rankings.