SAN FRANCISCO (Managed Care Wire): Consumer, employer and labor organizations recently announced a comprehensive national agreement with leading physician groups and health insurers on principles to guide how health plans measure doctors’ performance and report the information to consumers.

The “Patient Charter for Physician Performance Measurement, Reporting and Tiering Programs” creates a national set of principles to guide measuring and reporting to consumers about doctors’ performance, according to a study published April 1 on the Web site of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Consumer, employer and labor groups endorsing the charter include AARP, AFL-CIO, the Leapfrog Group, the National Business Coalition on Health, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and the Pacific Business Group on Health.

Physician groups that support the accord include the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the American College of Surgeons.  

Supporting insurers include America’s Health Insurance Plans, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and WellPoint.

You can find the charter online at www.healthcaredisclosure.org.