Interest in collecting and publicly reporting information about the cost and quality of health care has been growing. Help providers improve by benchmarking their performance against others, encourage private insurers and public programs …show more content…
Data system that monitors the claims information track the use of services to provide feedback to monitor resources use and quality. Though the disease management programs, MCOs are attempting to control costs and improve care quality for individuals with chronic and costly conditions through methods such as the use of evidenced-based clinical guidance, patient self-management education, disease registries, risk stratification, proactive patient outreach and performance feedback to providers. The health plan performance data that is available to public has a goal in clinical research, quality measurement, and public safety. Driven by several factors such as rising health care costs, concern about safety and efficiency. A need for improved accountability, comparative effectiveness of procedures for diagnosis and treatment. http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/2/454.full The tool used by Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, prompts users to answer a series of questions about their location, current prescription drug usage, and pharmacy preferences, then generates a list of available Medicare private drug plans that can be sorted per the total estimated annual cost, monthly premium, and other variables (http://wwwmedicare.gov. …show more content…
Transparency and better public information on cost and quality are essential for three reasons: 1) to help providers improve by benchmarking their performance against others; 2) to encourage private insurers and public programs to reward quality and efficiency; and 3) to help patients make informed choices about their care. Transparency is also important to level the playing field. The widespread practice of charging patient’s different prices for the same care is inherently inequitable, especially when the uninsured are charged more than other patients. (Transparency in Health Care: The Time Has Come (March 15, 2006). S. R. Collins and K. Davis. Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives, Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on