Medicare: Data Limitations Impede Measuring Quality of Care in Medicare ESRD Program

GAO reviewed the quality of care provided to Medicare end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, focusing on: (1) accepted performance standards for measuring quality of care provided to ESRD patients; and (2) the quality of care furnished to ESRD patients between providers such as chain-affiliated and unaffiliated dialysis facilities, and between health maintenance organizations (HMO) and providers paid through the standard Medicare ESRD program.