NCQA For Consumers
What is Quality?
Health care quality means getting the right care in the right amount at the right time.
- Right care—This means treatments that science shows actually work
- It also means treatment that fits the patient’s values, lifestyle and circumstances
- Right amount—Not getting enough of the care you need is a problem of “too little.” Getting treatment for a condition that goes away on its own is an example of “too much”. Getting multiple scans from doctors who don’t share information is an example of overuse too.
- Right time—Timing matters because often the best treatment is care that keeps you from getting sick in the first place.
NCQA measures quality in order to make it better. Find out
more about what quality means.
Quality Improvement
Improving Primary Care
Quality care begins at "home": the Patient-Centered Medical Home.
Improving Health Care Systems
We help groups of health care providers work together to improve quality and lower costs.
Improving Care for Everyone
Being able to talk to and care for people from different cultural backgrounds is important in a big country like the US.