Join Citizen Solutions to engage with other Minnesotans in a conversation about what's important to the future of health and healthcare in our state. Additional forums will be held throughout the state. In August, the Bush Foundation and Citizens League will deliver a report to the Health Care Reform Task Force on the values and priorities that have been heard from people and businesses across the state.
Scheduled Forums:
April 24: Northfield
April 26: Eden Prairie
May 1: Moorhead
May 2: Maple Grove
May 7: Bemidji
Friday, April 20, 2012
More clinics report quality of depression care
The number of clinics reporting on the quality of their depression care has more than doubled due to a requirement of Minnesota's Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System that was included in Minnesota's 2008 Health Care Reform Act.
According to Minnesota Community Measurement's annual 2011 Health Care Quality Report, 258 clinics are now publicly reporting on depression care compared to 116 in 2010. This year’s report also includes a section displaying risk adjusted rates compared to MNCM reported unadjusted rates for five measures: Optimal Diabetes Care, Optimal Vascular Care, Depression Remission at Six Months, Optimal Asthma Care, and Colorectal Cancer Screening.
According to Minnesota Community Measurement's annual 2011 Health Care Quality Report, 258 clinics are now publicly reporting on depression care compared to 116 in 2010. This year’s report also includes a section displaying risk adjusted rates compared to MNCM reported unadjusted rates for five measures: Optimal Diabetes Care, Optimal Vascular Care, Depression Remission at Six Months, Optimal Asthma Care, and Colorectal Cancer Screening.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Provider Peer Grouping bill passes
Legislation signed by Gov. Mark Dayton April 5 will change Minnesota’s provider peer grouping program by giving providers more time to review their data and by making health plan use of the data optional rather than mandatory.
The provider peer grouping program was passed as part of Minnesota’s 2008 Health Care Reform Act in order to increase the transparency of Minnesota’s health care system by providing patients and consumers data comparing the cost and quality of Minnesota’s clinics and hospitals.
The act originally required health plans, the Department of Human Services, and the State Employee Group Insurance Plan to incorporate provider peer grouping data into at least one health plan offering that would include incentives for patients to use high quality, low-cost providers.
With this recent legislative change, health plans now may use the data but are not mandated to do so.
In addition, the change gives clinics and hospitals more time, 120 days rather than 90 days, to review their data before it is publicly released. The amendment also establishes a streamlined appeals process and a committee comprised of representatives from hospitals, clinics, and other stakeholders that will advise the commissioner of health about scoring methodologies and the dissemination and sharing of the data.
“This is a good compromise that will allow this important work to move forward, while also providing us with a more formal way to work closely with clinics and hospitals to make sure the data is accurate and helps patients make informed health care choices,” said Ellen Benavides, assistant commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health.
The changes go into effect July 1, 2012.
The provider peer grouping program was passed as part of Minnesota’s 2008 Health Care Reform Act in order to increase the transparency of Minnesota’s health care system by providing patients and consumers data comparing the cost and quality of Minnesota’s clinics and hospitals.
The act originally required health plans, the Department of Human Services, and the State Employee Group Insurance Plan to incorporate provider peer grouping data into at least one health plan offering that would include incentives for patients to use high quality, low-cost providers.
With this recent legislative change, health plans now may use the data but are not mandated to do so.
In addition, the change gives clinics and hospitals more time, 120 days rather than 90 days, to review their data before it is publicly released. The amendment also establishes a streamlined appeals process and a committee comprised of representatives from hospitals, clinics, and other stakeholders that will advise the commissioner of health about scoring methodologies and the dissemination and sharing of the data.
“This is a good compromise that will allow this important work to move forward, while also providing us with a more formal way to work closely with clinics and hospitals to make sure the data is accurate and helps patients make informed health care choices,” said Ellen Benavides, assistant commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health.
The changes go into effect July 1, 2012.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Proposal for Medicare, Medicaid integration comments due April 19
The Department of Human Services invites public comment on a proposed demonstration to further integrate Medicare and Medicaid coverage for more than 93,000 Minnesota seniors and people with disabilities. The proposal (pdf) seeks more administrative integration, including provider payments and consumer materials, and greater accountability among providers and payers for total cost of care and health outcomes for people with both types of coverage.
Recommendations sought for Statewide quality reporting
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) invites interested stakeholders to submit recommendations on the addition, removal, or modification of standardized quality measures to MDH by June 1, 2012.
The Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed. Ehlinger will take these recommendations into consideration in determining what, if any, changes should be made to the Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System.
Recommendations must be submitted to MDH at health.reform@state.mn.us by 4:30 p.m. on June 1, 2012, to be considered. Click here to learn more about submitting comments.
The Minnesota Department of Health established and annually updates a core set of standardized health care quality measures for physician clinics and hospitals. These measures include care for diabetes, coronary artery and heart disease, asthma, and depression. Measures are developed in consultation with health care providers and are based on medical evidence. Providers are required to submit data on these measures and MDH publicly reports this information.
The Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed. Ehlinger will take these recommendations into consideration in determining what, if any, changes should be made to the Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System.
Recommendations must be submitted to MDH at health.reform@state.mn.us by 4:30 p.m. on June 1, 2012, to be considered. Click here to learn more about submitting comments.
The Minnesota Department of Health established and annually updates a core set of standardized health care quality measures for physician clinics and hospitals. These measures include care for diabetes, coronary artery and heart disease, asthma, and depression. Measures are developed in consultation with health care providers and are based on medical evidence. Providers are required to submit data on these measures and MDH publicly reports this information.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Healthcare reform saves millions for taxpayers
Federal and state taxpayers received a savings of $73 million in April thanks to the voluntary 1% cap on profits agreed to last year between Commissioner of Human Services Lucinda Jesson, HealthPartners, Medica, UCare, and BlueCross BlueShield.
This return of taxpayer dollars is the latest in a series of reforms to Minnesota’s health care system, focused on providing better taxpayer value at a better price.
Payments were calculated based on 2011 financial reports submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health by health insurance companies. In accordance with Governor Dayton’s Executive Order 11-06 issued on March 23, 2011, these reports will be independently audited and verified by vendors contracted by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Repayments from the health plans will be credited towards this biennium’s budget.
The estimated repayments for each plan are:
HealthPartners: $31 Million
Medica: $25 Million
BlueCross BlueShield: $9 Million
UCare: $8 Million
The Dayton administration negotiated 1% voluntary caps with the health plans for profits earned in 2011. This cap applies to the profit earned by the managed care companies under contracts negotiated prior to the Dayton Administration. For 2012 and beyond, the Dayton Administration implemented competitive bidding for public managed care contracts in the metro area. These competitively bid contracts, in concert with other managed care reforms, will generate over $500 million in savings to taxpayers over the next biennium.
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