National Quality Management Initiatives to Shape Healthcare Reform

Strategic Insights -

National healthcare reform efforts are likely to include key initiatives to improve the quality of care in the US, according to David J. Lansky, a noted expert in quality-measurement analysis. Despite opposition from groups such as the American Medical Association, national practice guidelines, a national medical-data system, and a strong federal role in quality measurement are expected to be included in any healthcare reform bill passed this year. These initiatives have wide support across the political spectrum and have been included in almost every significant reform bill proposed so far.

Key Takeaways:

  • National practice guidelines are likely to be implemented at the federal level, despite opposition from the American Medical Association.
  • A national data system will be established to collect and analyze healthcare data, although the specifics are unclear.
  • The federal government will play a significant role in quality measurement, with proposals calling for a national system to be implemented.
  • The cost of implementing national quality initiatives could be as high as $1.6 billion per year, according to a recent AMA analysis.
  • The American Medical Association proposes implementing uniform but minimal data collection and rejecting national performance measures in favor of principles to guide measure development.
  • The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations sees a need for standardization in national quality programs and expects major quality provisions to be enacted in any reform package passed.

Statistics:

  • $250 million: The projected annual cost of implementing White House quality initiatives (White House).
  • $1.6 billion: The estimated annual cost of implementing national quality initiatives, according to a recent AMA analysis (AMA).
  • 50: The number of sets of standards and performance measures currently in place in 50 different states, which would be a nightmare for multistate employers and providers (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations).

Sources:

  • David J. Lansky, MD, quality-measurement analyst for the Jackson Hole Group ().
  • American Medical Association.
  • White House.
  • American Medical Peer Review Association.
  • Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
  • American College of Medical Quality.
  • AMA analysis (no specific source cited).
  • Recent survey (no specific source cited).