A deep dive into the data on federal pay-for-performance programs for hospitals turned up a few key lessons along the way for Healthline's Jenna Flannigan, including the importance of understanding what health metrics are actually measuring.

Medicare levies penalties against hospitals in an effort to reduce the number of infections patients pick up at these facilities.

Medicare levies penalties against hospitals for lack of quality care, but does the system punish those facilities that accept lower-income patients?