The Commonwealth Fund has a longstanding interest in tracking the performance of health care in the United States. Since 2006, our health system scorecards have measured how well the nation performs relative to achievable benchmarks for access, quality, efficiency, outcomes, and equity. And, since 2004, Fund case studies have explored promising practices and models across the country for delivering better, more efficient health care.
The Fund’s Tracking Health System Performance initiative seeks to inform and engage policymakers, health system leaders and practitioners, community leaders, and the public by:
- Monitoring and assessing health system performance at the national, state, and local levels, including the effects of changes in policy and practice.
- Increasing awareness of gaps in health care performance as well as opportunities to improve by learning about what works in health care delivery.
- Supporting research and analysis across Commonwealth Fund programs.
The Fund’s website offers a range of tools and resources on health system performance. Visitors can view and download comparative information in the State Health Data Center to learn about the relationship between health care access, quality, and health outcomes in each state. State health system performance scorecards are released annually, with occasional special editions that take a deeper look at key issues policymakers must contend with. Each scorecard is accompanied by state-specific profiles that contain summary and detailed data on health performance. Additional resources track and analyze state trends in premiums and deductibles for employer-sponsored insurance as well as compare states on measures of health care access and affordability.
Program Contact:
David C. Radley, Senior Scientist, Tracking Health System Performance
