Abstract
While the need to use cost and quality measures together to assess health system efficiency is well-established, there is currently no clear consensus among stakeholders or recognized state of the art on how to do so. To begin exploring the state of measurement science in this area, NQF commissioned this white paper to categorize the various methodologies for and challenges of linking cost and quality measures. To guide the development of this paper, NQF convened a multistakeholder expert panel to provide input through an iterative review process. The goal of this paper is to outline various approaches to measuring efficiency in health care, explore their current and potential uses, and determine possible paths forward.