Health plans’ quality of care improved in 2007--the ninth consecutive year of continued improvements--according to a study released Oct. 2 by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
NCQA found that commercial health plans showed improvement in 44 of 54 measures, including better treatment for high blood pressure and postpartum depression. Private Medicare plans showed improvement in 24 of 45 measures, including an increase of heart attack patients being treated with beta-blockers. The quality of care through Medicaid plans has remained relatively unchanged over the past two years, according to the report.
The report suggested that all health plans should be required to measure and publicly report on quality of care measures. It also called for the healthcare system to be overhauled and said that the next president should set regional targets for health improvement and grant federal money accordingly. Access the report.
