| Embargoed Until 9 a.m. EDT, May 1, 2006
Contact: Richard Deutsch
Phone: 202-261-7573
Website: www.ahqa.org
AHQA Calls On CMS to Modernize QIO Program
Washington, D.C. April 28, 2006 – Responding
to recent recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the American
Health Quality Association (AHQA) is asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) to seek legislative changes and implement administrative
changes to modernize and ensure the accountability of the Medicare Quality
Improvement Organization (QIO) program. AHQA represents the national
network of QIOs that contract with CMS to help providers improve care,
and protect the Medicare program and its beneficiaries.
In an April 27
letter (see attached) to CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, AHQA Executive
Vice President David Schulke called for “prompt
implementation” of administrative changes AHQA believes CMS can
make without congressional approval. Specifically, AHQA is asking CMS
to support QIO education of beneficiaries about their rights under Medicare’s
complaint program, and to allow QIOs to tell beneficiaries the results
of complaint investigations. AHQA is also asking that CMS involve consumers,
providers, practitioners and purchasers—as the IOM has recommended—in
the setting of national and local priorities for the QIO program.
The
AHQA letter also asks CMS to support changes in federal law that will
finally establish quality improvement services as a core function of
the QIO program. In accordance with IOM recommendations, Schulke wrote,
the law should clearly state that QIO improvement assistance services
are available to all providers, Medicare Advantage and prescription
drug plans.
The law should also mandate adequate
funding for the QIO program, AHQA suggests, of no less than 0.5% of Medicare
spending to speed the pace and expand the breadth of health care quality improvement.
Other AHQA recommendations include adoption of a patient-centered Medicare
Quality Accountability Program, local and national stakeholder consultation
to establish QIO priorities, mandatory competition for QIO contracts,
reform of QIO evaluation procedures, and QIO coordination with Medicaid
on quality measurement and improvement strategies.
The American Health Quality Association is dedicated
to improving the safety and effectiveness of health care. AHQA represents
the national network of Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) that
work with hospitals,
medical practices, health plans, long-term care facilities, home health
agencies, and employers to encourage the spread of best clinical practices
and improve systems of care delivery.
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