When asked to choose a health care provider based only on cost, consumers choose the more expensive option, according to a new study funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) that appears in the March issue of Health Affairs.
The study found that consumers equate cost with quality and worry that lower cost means lower quality care. But higher costs may indicate unnecessary services or inefficiencies, so cost information alone does not help consumers get the best value for their health care dollar, according to the study.
The study, entitled "An Experiment Shows That a Well-Designed Report on Costs and Quality Can Help Consumers Choose High-Value Health Care," found that when consumers were shown the right mix of cost and quality information, they were better able to choose high-value health care providers—defined as those who deliver high-quality care at a lower cost.
Health care consumers want to visit high-quality doctors and hospitals, and many public report cards are available to help them compare providers. However, few report cards include information on cost, and there has been little scientific evidence to guide the presentation of that information to help consumers choose high value providers.
A team of researchers, led by Judith H. Hibbard, Dr. P.H., at the University of Oregon in Eugene, studied 1,400 employees in a randomized experiment to find out how they responded to different presentations of quality and cost information. When providers were clearly identified as high quality, cost had less influence on consumers' decisions and consumers were more likely to choose a provider with lower cost but better quality than a high-cost provider.
"This study has important implications for the more than 150 public reports on physician and hospital care," said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. "It's not simply a question of providing information on cost, but providing it in a way that is integrated with quality scores."
The study explored a number of ways to present cost and quality information effectively, using combinations of symbols such as dollar signs and stars, specific information such as dollar amounts and percentages, and labels such as "appropriate use" or "better." Consumers were more likely to choose high-value providers when presented with strong, unambiguous quality and cost information. In addition, a check mark indicating a "high-value" provider, along with the cost and quality information, also helped consumers use the information to make high-value choices. Given strong quality signals, consumers were also more confident in their choices.
The study's findings have implications for the design of public report cards that offer consumers information on the quality and cost of health care providers. Although report producers have been adopting strategies to help consumers process and use comparative information on quality and cost, many reporting websites still use overly technical information or present other barriers to easy comprehension, according to the study.
For additional AHRQ information about public reporting, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/path/publicreporting.htm.
Source: AHRQ News Release
Monday, March 12, 2012
Medicare Redesigns Claims and Benefits Statement
As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Marilyn Tavenner, announced the redesign of the statement that informs Medicare beneficiaries about their claims for Medicare services and benefits. The redesigned statement, known as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), will be available online and, starting in 2013, mailed out quarterly to beneficiaries.
This MSN redesign is part of a new initiative, “Your Medicare Information: Clearer, Simpler, At Your Fingertips,” which aims to make Medicare information clearer, more accessible, and easier for beneficiaries and their caregivers to understand. CMS will take additional actions this year to make information about benefits, providers, and claims more accessible and easier to understand for seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare. This MSN redesign reflects more than 18 months of research and feedback from beneficiaries to provide enhanced customer service and respond to suggestions and input.
“Consumer protection starts with making sure consumers not only get timely and accurate information, but that they understand what services they’re receiving from Medicare,” said Acting Administrator Tavenner. “The new Medicare Summary Notice empowers Medicare’s seniors and people with disabilities. The statement is easier to understand and navigate, and makes clear what information to check and how to report potential fraud. The new MSN also makes it easier for people with Medicare to understand their benefits and file appeals if a claim is denied.”
To see a side-by-side comparison of the former and redesigned MSNs, please visit: http://www.cms.gov/apps/files/msn_changes.pdf
The redesign of the MSN includes several features not currently available to Medicare beneficiaries with the current MSN:
· A clear notice on how to check the form for important facts and potential fraud;
· Clearer language, including consumer-friendly descriptions for medical procedures;
· Definitions of all terms used in the form;
· Larger fonts throughout to make it easier to read;
The redesigned MSN will be available to beneficiaries on mymedicare.gov, Medicare’s secure online service for personalized information regarding Medicare benefits and services; and, in early 2013, paper copies of the redesigned MSN will start to replace the current version being mailed.
Source: CMS News Release
This MSN redesign is part of a new initiative, “Your Medicare Information: Clearer, Simpler, At Your Fingertips,” which aims to make Medicare information clearer, more accessible, and easier for beneficiaries and their caregivers to understand. CMS will take additional actions this year to make information about benefits, providers, and claims more accessible and easier to understand for seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare. This MSN redesign reflects more than 18 months of research and feedback from beneficiaries to provide enhanced customer service and respond to suggestions and input.
“Consumer protection starts with making sure consumers not only get timely and accurate information, but that they understand what services they’re receiving from Medicare,” said Acting Administrator Tavenner. “The new Medicare Summary Notice empowers Medicare’s seniors and people with disabilities. The statement is easier to understand and navigate, and makes clear what information to check and how to report potential fraud. The new MSN also makes it easier for people with Medicare to understand their benefits and file appeals if a claim is denied.”
To see a side-by-side comparison of the former and redesigned MSNs, please visit: http://www.cms.gov/apps/files/msn_changes.pdf
The redesign of the MSN includes several features not currently available to Medicare beneficiaries with the current MSN:
· A clear notice on how to check the form for important facts and potential fraud;
· Clearer language, including consumer-friendly descriptions for medical procedures;
· Definitions of all terms used in the form;
· Larger fonts throughout to make it easier to read;
The redesigned MSN will be available to beneficiaries on mymedicare.gov, Medicare’s secure online service for personalized information regarding Medicare benefits and services; and, in early 2013, paper copies of the redesigned MSN will start to replace the current version being mailed.
Source: CMS News Release
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
ONC Requests Input on Safeguarding Health Info on Mobile Devices
The ONC Office of the Chief Privacy Officer (OCPO), along with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), invites members of the public to provide input on mobile devices' uses and the current and emerging privacy and security best practices regarding protecting and securing health information while using mobile devices.
In conjunction with the input gathered during the Mobile Devices Roundtable: Safeguarding Health Information event, public input will help inform the development of an effective and practical way to bring awareness and understanding to those in the clinical sector regarding protecting and securing health information while using mobile devices.
ONC is seeking your input. The public comment period will remain open until Friday, March 30, 2012.
For more information, please click here.
Source: ONC News Release
In conjunction with the input gathered during the Mobile Devices Roundtable: Safeguarding Health Information event, public input will help inform the development of an effective and practical way to bring awareness and understanding to those in the clinical sector regarding protecting and securing health information while using mobile devices.
ONC is seeking your input. The public comment period will remain open until Friday, March 30, 2012.
For more information, please click here.
Source: ONC News Release
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
NeHC Releases 2012 Stakeholder Survey Results
National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) released the results of the 2012 NeHC Stakeholder Survey, featuring responses related to health information exchange, consumer engagement and other NeHC programs. NeHC previewed the results at HIMSS12 during its stakeholder meet-up and other strategic meetings.
Coming on the heels of the release of the proposed rule for meaningful use Stage 2, survey results provide insights into perceptions of stakeholders related to barriers to health information exchange (HIE) and the importance of consumer engagement to transforming healthcare, which relate to some of the core measures that physicians and hospitals must meet in order to be eligible for Stage 2 meaningful use incentives. Stakeholders believe that the most important benefits of HIE include care coordination, ensuring that patients and providers have the right information available when needed to support patient care, and improving quality and efficiency. In addition, stakeholders believe that consumer engagement will be very important or important to transforming healthcare and achieving better outcomes.
“It is both interesting and enlightening to understand what stakeholders are thinking related to core strategic priorities for NeHC including education, HIE, and consumer engagement,” said NeHC CEO Kate Berry. “This type of information can help inform our programs to ensure we emphasize the areas of greatest need to encourage progress toward widespread deployment of HIT and HIE to improve patient care.”
Highlights from the survey are included below:
“What are the most important benefits of health information exchange?” (Respondents were asked to select three)
73% - Better care coordination
65% - Providers and patients have the right information available when needed
39% - Improved efficiency
37% - Improved quality
“What are the biggest challenges to achieving widespread health information exchange?” (Respondents were asked to select three)
61% - Funding and sustainability
53% - Interoperability standards
46% - Provider adoption
46% - Disparate electronic medical record systems
34% - Privacy and security
“How important is patient/consumer engagement to transforming healthcare?”
95% - Very important or Important
5% - Somewhat important
“What Health IT topics are of greatest interest to you?”(Respondents were asked to select all that apply)
60% - Interoperability standards
57% - Meaningful use
51% - Examples of HIE
49% - Health IT policy updates
49% - Healthcare reform
44% - Privacy and security
For a full reporting of the top survey results click here.
NeHC conducted the survey from February 13-17. The questionnaire was distributed to over 7,000 stakeholders with a response rate of 3 percent.
NeHC intends to use survey results and additional stakeholder feedback to inform its continued work with HIE, consumer engagement through the Consumer Consortium on eHealth, and with planning future NeHC University education programs.
Source: NeHC News Release
Coming on the heels of the release of the proposed rule for meaningful use Stage 2, survey results provide insights into perceptions of stakeholders related to barriers to health information exchange (HIE) and the importance of consumer engagement to transforming healthcare, which relate to some of the core measures that physicians and hospitals must meet in order to be eligible for Stage 2 meaningful use incentives. Stakeholders believe that the most important benefits of HIE include care coordination, ensuring that patients and providers have the right information available when needed to support patient care, and improving quality and efficiency. In addition, stakeholders believe that consumer engagement will be very important or important to transforming healthcare and achieving better outcomes.
“It is both interesting and enlightening to understand what stakeholders are thinking related to core strategic priorities for NeHC including education, HIE, and consumer engagement,” said NeHC CEO Kate Berry. “This type of information can help inform our programs to ensure we emphasize the areas of greatest need to encourage progress toward widespread deployment of HIT and HIE to improve patient care.”
Highlights from the survey are included below:
“What are the most important benefits of health information exchange?” (Respondents were asked to select three)
73% - Better care coordination
65% - Providers and patients have the right information available when needed
39% - Improved efficiency
37% - Improved quality
“What are the biggest challenges to achieving widespread health information exchange?” (Respondents were asked to select three)
61% - Funding and sustainability
53% - Interoperability standards
46% - Provider adoption
46% - Disparate electronic medical record systems
34% - Privacy and security
“How important is patient/consumer engagement to transforming healthcare?”
95% - Very important or Important
5% - Somewhat important
“What Health IT topics are of greatest interest to you?”(Respondents were asked to select all that apply)
60% - Interoperability standards
57% - Meaningful use
51% - Examples of HIE
49% - Health IT policy updates
49% - Healthcare reform
44% - Privacy and security
For a full reporting of the top survey results click here.
NeHC conducted the survey from February 13-17. The questionnaire was distributed to over 7,000 stakeholders with a response rate of 3 percent.
NeHC intends to use survey results and additional stakeholder feedback to inform its continued work with HIE, consumer engagement through the Consumer Consortium on eHealth, and with planning future NeHC University education programs.
Source: NeHC News Release
AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed an array of health care decision making and research tools that can be used by program managers, researchers, and others at the Federal, State and local levels. The Quality Indicators (QIs) are measures of health care quality that make use of readily available hospital inpatient administrative data. The current AHRQ QI modules expand HCUP QIs. The QIs can be used to highlight potential quality concerns, identify areas that need further study and investigation, and track changes over time.
In response to high demand for a recent Webinar about the AHRQ Quality IndicatorsTM Toolkit for Hospitals, AHRQ is repeating this popular event. Participants will hear live presentations about the toolkit from its developers and learn from a quality expert at a hospital that tested it.
The toolkit is a free resource to guide hospitals through the process of using the AHRQ Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQIs) and Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) to improve care.
Webinar information:
Date: Tuesday, March 13
Time: 3:00-4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time
Register at: http://meet63385651.adobeconnect.com/hospitaltoolkitregistration2/event/event_info.html
(Note: If you registered for the first Webinar but could not participate, you can register for the repeat Webinar by simply entering your email address and password.)
The Webinar will cover:
-The purpose of the toolkit.
-How it was developed.
-How it is organized for easy use.
-How a hospital has used it to assess performance on the indicators, identify priorities, and implement changes to improve quality and safety.
Download the AHRQ Quality IndicatorsTM Toolkit for Hospitals at: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qitoolkit
More information on the AHRQ Quality Indicators is available at: http://www.qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/
In response to high demand for a recent Webinar about the AHRQ Quality IndicatorsTM Toolkit for Hospitals, AHRQ is repeating this popular event. Participants will hear live presentations about the toolkit from its developers and learn from a quality expert at a hospital that tested it.
The toolkit is a free resource to guide hospitals through the process of using the AHRQ Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQIs) and Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) to improve care.
Webinar information:
Date: Tuesday, March 13
Time: 3:00-4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time
Register at: http://meet63385651.adobeconnect.com/hospitaltoolkitregistration2/event/event_info.html
(Note: If you registered for the first Webinar but could not participate, you can register for the repeat Webinar by simply entering your email address and password.)
The Webinar will cover:
-The purpose of the toolkit.
-How it was developed.
-How it is organized for easy use.
-How a hospital has used it to assess performance on the indicators, identify priorities, and implement changes to improve quality and safety.
Download the AHRQ Quality IndicatorsTM Toolkit for Hospitals at: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qitoolkit
More information on the AHRQ Quality Indicators is available at: http://www.qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/
Thursday, March 1, 2012
SAFE CARE Patient Safety Education Program Launched
In celebration of Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 4-10, 2012, a unique patient safety education program was launched to provide patients and their families with instant access to current patient safety videos at their bedside and while receiving care.
The 2012 SAFE CARE Patient Safety Education Program is a free offering developed to assist health care organizations in educating patients to help prevent medical errors. The campaign features videos from The Joint Commission’s Speak Up™ campaign, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kimberly-Clark, the Patient Channel® from The Wellness Network, and Safe Care Campaign. The goal of the SAFE CARE Patient Safety Education Program is to save lives, prevent harm and help patients receive safer care.
The SAFE CARE Program utilizes free posters that hospitals can hang in patient rooms which allows patients and families to instantly access and watch safety videos by topic on their own smart phones by simply pointing a smart phone at a QR code on the poster, or texting the word “SAFE” to 411247 to receive a link to Safe Care’s safety video library. The nine short videos address the most common patient safety issues in hospitals such as hand hygiene, preventing infections, avoiding medication errors, patient falls, and more. Organizations are also able to customize the videos for a nominal fee.
“We are making important safety information available to patients and their families 24/7 with no training or time obligation whatsoever from the hospital care staff,” says Victoria Nahum, executive director, SAFE CARE Campaign. “These videos show how to receive the safest care possible and we put it right into the hands of the patients and their families’ right when they need it most - while they're at the bedside.”
“We know that the more patients are involved in their care the less likely there will be a bad outcome such as a medication mix-up or a health care-associated infection,” says Cathy Barry-Ipema, chief communications officer, The Joint Commission. “This campaign gives patients the information they need to speak up and be active participants in their health care.”
"Patients have a right to know that they are receiving safe care," said Arjun Srinivasan, M.D., associate director of Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Programs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We hope that educational materials, like these, will empower patients to start a discussion with their healthcare provider about what can be done to prevent infections during their medical care."
Source: TJC News Release
The 2012 SAFE CARE Patient Safety Education Program is a free offering developed to assist health care organizations in educating patients to help prevent medical errors. The campaign features videos from The Joint Commission’s Speak Up™ campaign, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kimberly-Clark, the Patient Channel® from The Wellness Network, and Safe Care Campaign. The goal of the SAFE CARE Patient Safety Education Program is to save lives, prevent harm and help patients receive safer care.
The SAFE CARE Program utilizes free posters that hospitals can hang in patient rooms which allows patients and families to instantly access and watch safety videos by topic on their own smart phones by simply pointing a smart phone at a QR code on the poster, or texting the word “SAFE” to 411247 to receive a link to Safe Care’s safety video library. The nine short videos address the most common patient safety issues in hospitals such as hand hygiene, preventing infections, avoiding medication errors, patient falls, and more. Organizations are also able to customize the videos for a nominal fee.
“We are making important safety information available to patients and their families 24/7 with no training or time obligation whatsoever from the hospital care staff,” says Victoria Nahum, executive director, SAFE CARE Campaign. “These videos show how to receive the safest care possible and we put it right into the hands of the patients and their families’ right when they need it most - while they're at the bedside.”
“We know that the more patients are involved in their care the less likely there will be a bad outcome such as a medication mix-up or a health care-associated infection,” says Cathy Barry-Ipema, chief communications officer, The Joint Commission. “This campaign gives patients the information they need to speak up and be active participants in their health care.”
"Patients have a right to know that they are receiving safe care," said Arjun Srinivasan, M.D., associate director of Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Programs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We hope that educational materials, like these, will empower patients to start a discussion with their healthcare provider about what can be done to prevent infections during their medical care."
Source: TJC News Release
NIH Releases Genetic Testing Online Tool
An online tool launched by the National Institutes of Health will make it easier to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of genetic tests. The free resource, called the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR), is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/.
"I’m delighted that NIH has created this powerful, new tool. It is a tremendous resource for all who are struggling to make sense of the complex world of genetic testing," said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., who unveiled GTR at NIH's observance of international Rare Disease Day. "This registry will help a lot of people — from health care professionals looking for answers to their patients’ diseases to researchers seeking to identify gaps in scientific knowledge."
Genetic tests currently exist for about 2,500 diseases, and the field continues to grow at an astonishing rate. To keep pace, GTR will be updated frequently, using data voluntarily submitted by genetic test providers. Such information will include the purpose of each genetic test and its limitations; the name and location of the test provider; whether it is a clinical or research test; what methods are used; and what is measured. GTR will contain no confidential information about people who receive genetic tests or individual test results.
Genetic tests that the Food and Drug Administration has cleared or approved as safe and effective are identified in the GTR. However, most laboratory developed tests currently do not require FDA premarket review. Genetic test providers will be solely responsible for the content and quality of the data they submit to GTR. NIH will not verify the content, but will require submitters to agree to a code of conduct that stipulates that the information they provide is accurate and updated on an annual basis. If submitters do not adhere to this code, NIH can take action, including requiring submitters to correct any inaccuracies or to remove such information from GTR.
In addition to basic facts, GTR will offer detailed information on analytic validity, which assesses how accurately and reliably the test measures the genetic target; clinical validity, which assesses how consistently and accurately the test detects or predicts the outcome of interest; and information relating to the test’s clinical utility, or how likely the test is to improve patient outcomes.
"Our new registry features a versatile search interface that allows users to search by tests, conditions, genes, genetic mutations and laboratories," said Wendy Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D., director of GTR. "What's more, we designed this tool to serve as a portal to other medical genetics information, with context-specific links to practice guidelines and a variety of genetic, scientific and literature resources available through the National Library of Medicine at NIH."
GTR is built upon data pulled from the laboratory directory of GeneTests, a pioneering NIH-funded resource that will be phased out over the coming year. GTR is designed to contain more detailed information than its predecessor, as well as to encompass a much broader range of testing approaches, such as complex tests for genetic variations associated with common diseases and with differing responses to drugs. GeneReviews, which is the section of GeneTests that contains peer-reviewed, clinical descriptions of more than 500 conditions, is also now available through GTR.
The GTR database was developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), part of NIH’s National Library of Medicine, under the oversight of the NIH Office of the Director and with extensive input from researchers, testing labs, health care providers, patients and other stakeholders. To view video tutorials on how to use GTR, go to http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1C4A2AFF811F6F0B.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.
NCBI creates public databases in molecular biology, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing molecular and genomic data, and disseminates biomedical information, all for the better understanding of processes affecting human health and disease. NCBI is a division of the National Library of Medicine, the world's largest library of the health sciences.
Source: NIH Press Release
"I’m delighted that NIH has created this powerful, new tool. It is a tremendous resource for all who are struggling to make sense of the complex world of genetic testing," said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., who unveiled GTR at NIH's observance of international Rare Disease Day. "This registry will help a lot of people — from health care professionals looking for answers to their patients’ diseases to researchers seeking to identify gaps in scientific knowledge."
Genetic tests currently exist for about 2,500 diseases, and the field continues to grow at an astonishing rate. To keep pace, GTR will be updated frequently, using data voluntarily submitted by genetic test providers. Such information will include the purpose of each genetic test and its limitations; the name and location of the test provider; whether it is a clinical or research test; what methods are used; and what is measured. GTR will contain no confidential information about people who receive genetic tests or individual test results.
Genetic tests that the Food and Drug Administration has cleared or approved as safe and effective are identified in the GTR. However, most laboratory developed tests currently do not require FDA premarket review. Genetic test providers will be solely responsible for the content and quality of the data they submit to GTR. NIH will not verify the content, but will require submitters to agree to a code of conduct that stipulates that the information they provide is accurate and updated on an annual basis. If submitters do not adhere to this code, NIH can take action, including requiring submitters to correct any inaccuracies or to remove such information from GTR.
In addition to basic facts, GTR will offer detailed information on analytic validity, which assesses how accurately and reliably the test measures the genetic target; clinical validity, which assesses how consistently and accurately the test detects or predicts the outcome of interest; and information relating to the test’s clinical utility, or how likely the test is to improve patient outcomes.
"Our new registry features a versatile search interface that allows users to search by tests, conditions, genes, genetic mutations and laboratories," said Wendy Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D., director of GTR. "What's more, we designed this tool to serve as a portal to other medical genetics information, with context-specific links to practice guidelines and a variety of genetic, scientific and literature resources available through the National Library of Medicine at NIH."
GTR is built upon data pulled from the laboratory directory of GeneTests, a pioneering NIH-funded resource that will be phased out over the coming year. GTR is designed to contain more detailed information than its predecessor, as well as to encompass a much broader range of testing approaches, such as complex tests for genetic variations associated with common diseases and with differing responses to drugs. GeneReviews, which is the section of GeneTests that contains peer-reviewed, clinical descriptions of more than 500 conditions, is also now available through GTR.
The GTR database was developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), part of NIH’s National Library of Medicine, under the oversight of the NIH Office of the Director and with extensive input from researchers, testing labs, health care providers, patients and other stakeholders. To view video tutorials on how to use GTR, go to http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1C4A2AFF811F6F0B.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.
NCBI creates public databases in molecular biology, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing molecular and genomic data, and disseminates biomedical information, all for the better understanding of processes affecting human health and disease. NCBI is a division of the National Library of Medicine, the world's largest library of the health sciences.
Source: NIH Press Release
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