We need to be very mindful that the primary purpose of quality measurement is to promote quality improvement.

Have any of you seen reports that have estimated how much providers are spending to collect and report quality measures?

I am pleased that we are having this series of hearings addressing different parts of our health care system.

In my opening statement, I talked about the importance of striking the right balance between conducting appropriate program integrity oversight of the Medicare program and ensuring that there is not an undue administrative burden on health…

I am concerned about that. We have to really look this over to see if we can find some better way of making this a quality system that works better than it currently works.

Well, I just have to say that I think all three of you have been very helpful to the committee here today.

We have to find a way of getting health care to a point that the government can live with it and the people who give health care can live with it.

I think this has been a terrific panel, between you and me.

And people wonder why hospital costs are going up and up and up.

Of that amount, CMS reported that the improper payments from Medicare were estimated to be more than $44 billion.

I think we are at fault too, because we could do a better job.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

In 2012, Medicare covered more than 49 million elderly and disabled beneficiaries at an estimated cost of $550 billion.

Medicare improper payments are a really serious issue.

the more you aggregate large quantities of metadata, potentially on every single American citizen, and you give someone within the executive branch of government the power to search all of that, you do give them a pretty broad view into…

I just want to personally tell you how much I personally appreciate you and appreciate the FBI.

A lot of people have concerns about what, if any, limiting principles there are that would prevent the government from ultimately storing all information about all Americans.

I want to pay tribute to you, General Alexander, and others in the intelligence community and the FBI for the work that you have done to protect our country.