| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2006
Contact: Jennifer Felsher
Phone: 202-261-7565
Email: jfelsher@ahqa.org
Legislation to Modernize QIO Program
Statement by Sallie Cook, MD
President,
The American Health Quality Association
The American
Health Quality Association (AHQA) strongly supports legislation introduced
in the House of Representatives today by Congressman Michael Burgess,
MD ( R- TX ) to modernize America ’s Quality Improvement Organization
(QIO) program and reform Medicare physician payment.
This visionary
legislation reflects a recent call by the Institute of Medicine (IOM)
to both strengthen the QIO program and integrate it into national strategies
for health care performance measurement and improvement. In a March
2006 report, the IOM said that the QIO program represents an invaluable
resource for improving health care quality in every state and territory.
The IOM wrote in this report, “[I]f
such a program did not exist, CMS would need to create one to fulfill
its obligation to ensure that all beneficiaries receive high quality
care.” CMS – the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – administers
the QIO program.
The QIOs under contract with Medicare work directly with health care
professionals to spread best practices, reduce medical errors, and solve
quality-of-care problems. Their services include hands-on technical support,
mentoring, and education to improve health care quality at the community
level in every state.
Congressman
Burgess’ bill recognizes that modernizing the QIO
program is crucial to improving health care quality across the country.
We all know that the quality is not what it should be. It’s not
just a question of motivation: Physicians and other health care professionals
across the country are working hard every day to provide high quality
care in an environment of increasing regulatory and payment pressures.
But even the most motivated providers need hands-on help.
They not
only need help, but are grateful for it. In a recent independent survey
of stakeholders working with QIOs, 9 in 10 said they were satisfied
with the assistance they received. One stakeholder, William F. Jessee,
MD, President and CEO of the Medical Group Management Association,
called the QIOs “outstanding
resources and valued partners in a variety of joint efforts to help
improve patient care.”
Studies also show that help from QIOs is effective. Evidence strongly
suggests that QIOs are having a positive impact on the quality of care.
We are pleased to release today a summary of recently published peer-reviewed
studies demonstrating QIO effectiveness (see attached).
As the health care system increases the use of performance measurement
and incentives, providers need greater access to the support that QIOs
offer in every state. QIOs are on the front lines driving change to make
real, lasting improvements.
Congressman Burgess has performed a tremendous service today for patients
across the country. We urge Congress to promptly consider and adopt this
legislation to help more patients benefit from safe, timely, effective,
equitable, efficient and patient-centered care.
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, long-term care facilities, home
health agencies, health plans, pharmacists, and employers to encourage
the spread of best clinical practices and improve systems of care delivery.
Visit: www.ahqa.org. |
