Recent article indicating the start of uniform approach tying into funds - a different model but a portend of things to come... Leavitt Discusses Health IT Standards  August 07, 2006  HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Sunday told the nation's governors that the Bush administration will soon require all health care providers that receive federal funds to adopt quality-measurement tools and uniform IT standards, the Washington Post reports. Speaking at a session of the National Governors Association's annual meeting, Leavitt said President Bush "in a matter of weeks" plans to sign an executive order to create the standards. Leavitt said the executive order would set standards for specific health conditions and would spur the development of uniform methods for measuring and reporting treatment outcomes. Leavitt said the executive order also is expected to include standards for four basic health IT functions:
The initial standards would be "pretty basic," Leavitt said, but he added they would be a cornerstone for a health care system that allows patients to make "much more informed decisions." Leavitt said the reformed system also would reduce health care costs and improve patient services. Leavitt said he has spoken with executives from 21 of the 100 largest U.S. employers, each of whom said they were ready to sign contracts to implement similar standards with the hospitals and other providers caring for their workers. Leavitt said he expected that the majority of the 100 employers will sign such contracts this year, and he encouraged states to sign similar contracts with Medicaid providers. "Governors expressed interest in using Leavitt's model in their states but voiced skepticism about the readiness of doctors to have their work evaluated," the Post reports. Although some physicians are "skeptical" that HHS can develop an accurate quality-measurement system, many "want the standards" so they can evaluate their own performance against other doctors and because rewards for high-quality care might offset future cuts in Medicare payments, Leavitt said (Broder, Washington Post, 8/7).  On 09/08/2006, at 5:41 PM, Alex wrote:
Mark Gibson Extensia Solutions Pty Ltd Level 17, 344 Queen Street Brisbane 4000 ________________________________________ Mob: 0419702685 Ph: + 61 07 3292 0252 www.extensia.com.au Notice: This e-mail is intended only to be read or used by the addressee. It is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not copy or deliver this message to anyone, and you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply e-mail. Confidentiality and legal privilege are not waived or lost by reason of mistaken delivery to you. |
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