FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2006
Contact: Jennifer Felsher
Direct: 202-261-7565
Email: jfelsher@ahqa.org
Website: www.ahqa.org

Independent Survey: Stakeholders Agree QIOs Improve Care

3 in 4 say providers give better care because of QIOs

Washington, DC — Three out of four stakeholders in health care improvement agree that “providers are providing better care because of QIOs,” according to a new independent survey of stakeholders working closely with Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) to improve care for Medicare beneficiaries.

“These findings are a strong endorsement of the value QIOs provide to those at the front lines of the effort to improve health care quality,” said David Schulke, Executive Vice President of the American Health Quality Association. “No health care professional has time anymore to voluntarily work with someone who doesn’t bring value. These data from the front lines confirm that QIOs are making quality better.”

The survey, “Stakeholder Survey: Baseline Study Report,” was conducted in January and February 2006 by Westat, an independent company under contract to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). A second survey will be conducted in 2007 as part of CMS’ overall performance evaluation of QIOs in their current contract, which runs from 2005-2008.

Westat interviewed more than 1,300 small, medium, and large stakeholders nationwide, asking questions covering four major topic areas: knowledge of QIO activities, satisfaction with QIO information and assistance, perceived value of the QIO, and interactions with the QIO. Among other results, the survey shows that:

• 91% found the information and assistance provided by their QIO valuable
• 90% were satisfied with all interactions and partnerships with their QIO
• Of those respondents who have an “on-going partnership” with their QIO – nearly all (98%) reported being satisfied with QIO efforts, including 84% who were very satisfied

Survey respondents represented a broad cross-section of key stakeholders, including state-based organizations and state-level representatives of national organizations including: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Hospital Association, American Health Care Association, American Medical Association, National Association of Home Care, Medical Group Management Association, End Stage Renal Disease Network, and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. State-based stakeholders included state survey agencies, state offices of rural health, health plans, long-term care ombudsman programs, and organizations representing underserved populations.

COMMENTS FROM STAKEHOLDERS SURVEYED:

American College of Physicians
“Practice transformation is a top priority for the American College of Physicians, and QIOs are a key trusted resource for helping physicians through this important process,” said Michael S. Barr, MD, MBA, FACP, vice president, Practice Advocacy and Improvement of the American College of Physicians. “We’re pleased to see that other stakeholders are highly satisfied with the QIOs as well.”

National Rural Health Association
“It continues to be abundantly clear that the Quality Improvement Organizations are a principal source of essential assistance in terms of knowledge, skills and cultural transformation to improve the quality of rural health care,” said Forrest Calico, MD, MPH, senior advisor for quality, National Rural Health Association, which represents more than 10,000 members on rural health issues.

National Association of Home Care & Hospice
“Thousands of home health agencies have boosted their performance with help from QIOs, and we find the pace of improvement is faster with QIO support. As evidenced by the survey results, home health agencies across the country voice high praise for training programs and the ongoing guidance provided by their QIOs. Medicare’s investment in the QIO program is a wise one, and we’re excited to be partnering with them on the important initiative to prevent avoidable hospitalizations. We’re hopeful that the Congress and the Bush administration will continue offering home health agencies support through the QIOs and will take steps to allow hospice organizations to take advantage of QIO assistance as well.” Val J. Halamandaris, president of the National Association of Home Care & Hospice

American Health Care Association
“The QIOs are valuable partners in the long term care profession’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of care and quality of life for the frail, elderly and disabled in our nation’s nursing homes. These survey results reaffirm what our members know to be true, that the collaborative support and critical assistance provided by QIOs are essential for us to meet our commitment of continuous quality improvement,” stated Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of the American Health Care Association, a non-profit federation of affiliated state health organizations representing more than 10,000 non-profit and for-profit assisted living, nursing facility, developmentally-disabled, and subacute care providers that care for more than 1.5 million elderly and disabled individuals nationally. “We hope that these survey results will encourage more facilities to utilize the benefits provided with QIO assistance.”

Center for Health Transformation
“Quality Improvement Organizations are providing valuable tools and education on important issues like the adoption of health information technology. They are making a difference for thousands of physicians and—more importantly—their patients,” said former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation

Medical Group Management Association
“The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is committed to helping medical groups enhance patient safety, quality and satisfaction. Accordingly, we are very grateful for the technical assistance and support that Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) provide to medical practices around the country. We’ve found the QIOs to be outstanding resources and valued partners in a variety of joint efforts to help improve patient care,” said William F. Jessee, MD, FACMPE, President and CEO, Medical Group Management Association.

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
“The QIOs are an excellent quality improvement resource for Medicare providers and AACP is pleased that so many providers recognize the value of QIO expert assistance,” said Will Lang, vice president, Policy and Advocacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. “The proactive collaboration between the QIOs and faculty at our nation’s colleges and schools of pharmacy creates the opportunity for providers and beneficiaries to benefit from medication management improvements at the very start of the prescription drug benefit.”

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
“Our members are dedicated to continuous quality improvement and have been pleased to work with the QIOs in tandem with our Quality First initiative,” said Larry Minnix, president & CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, which represents not-for-profit aging services providers serving more than two million people daily. “These survey results show that many organizations find, as we have, that QIOs can be a valuable collaborative partner.”