Health Plan & Provider Report Index Summary

QUALITY OF CARE

– Comparative effectiveness research

– – Cost-effectiveness information essential, position paper, 573
– – Establishing nonprofit to study

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 3408

– – Evidence-based care

– – Financial incentives also key to improvement, hearing, 833
– – Health care quality, financial incentives also key to improvement, hearing, 833
– – Institute, financing and resulting data use key policy questions, briefing, 406
– – Key element of AHIP cost reduction proposal, report, 614
– – Linked to improvement, CBO report, 14
– – Medical devices assessment, future role of national entity unclear, conference, 613

– Delivery models Web site, In Brief, 450
– Efficiency measures, definitions vary widely depending on evaluator, RAND report, 291
– Employer improvement initiatives, legal issues related to information collection by race and ethnicity, BNA Analysis, 760
– Health care industry performance measures inconsistent, Joint Comm'n report, 298
– HMOs, Cal. plans pay physician groups millions for improvements, 271
– Hospitals

– – Hostile provider behavior, Joint Comm'n alert and standards revision, 779
– – Mass. trustees, quality improvement training course recommended, 375
– – Patient input, updated Medicare Web site, In Brief, 406
– – Performance measures inconsistent, Joint Comm'n report, 298
– – Preventive care, Allina Hosp. & Clinics to develop Minn. center focusing on heart attacks, 681
– – Value-based Medicare purchasing program

– – – Pilot results positive, 694
– – – Stakeholders discuss implementation concerns, 284

– – Wash., patient evaluations on state association Web site, 427

– LSCs oversight, Joint Comm'n and Urgent Care Ass'n of Am. team, 777
– Medicaid managed care performance improvement, most states use external quality reviews, IG report, 641
– Medical errors, proposed HHS rule on voluntary reporting published, 197; providers recommend clarifications to ensure data privacy, 441
– NCQA

See NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE (NCQA)

– Physicians

– – Consumers demand ranking programs, teleconference, 63
– – Hostile provider behavior, Joint Comm'n alert and standards revision, 779
– – Mass. rankings, medical society sues to halt state plan (Mass. Super. Ct.), 590
– – N.Y. ranking settlement, NCQA Web site launched, 883
– – Pay-for-performance programs

See PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS

– – Performance measurement and reporting, insurers and provider groups support patient charter, 404
– – Profiles, Ill. Web site allows consumer comparisons, 427
– – Provider-specific data, BCBS of Tenn. provides for members, 205; release delayed, 300; providers may review information before release, 806

– Policy, coalition recommends private-public sector reform efforts, report, 554
– Spending reduction, performance improvements and cost cuts key proposal elements but efficacy unknown, hearing, 641
– State performance improvement, Commonwealth Fund program selects 9 participants, 447
– System efficiency, HHS urges stakeholders to develop cost and quality comparison measures, meeting, 464
– URAC

See UTILIZATION REVIEW ACCREDITATION COMMISSION (URAC)

– Wellness programs, URAC seeks comments on standards, 751
– Wellpoint/Resolution Health acquisition, 475

QUI TAM SUITS

– Hospitals, individual who does not receive benefits lacks standing to sue under Medicare Secondary Payer Act (6th Cir.), 270; sanctions imposed, 895