Improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of publicly financed health care
2007 NCQA Awards Recognize Health Plans in CHCS Disparities Initiatives
Seven health plans participating in Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) initiatives to reduce disparities and improve health care quality were selected by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for the 2007 "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award." The seven plans were among nine managed care organizations that were chosen for this national recognition out of 35 submissions. The awards were announced earlier today.
Two of the nine awardees were chosen for pilot projects undertaken in CHCS' Medicaid-focused workgroup on Improving Health Care Quality for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Populations. The workgroup was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and The Commonwealth Fund. Five additional awardees are participating in the National Health Plan Collaborative (NHPC), which is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, with additional support from RWJF. NHPC is working with 11 of the nation's largest health plans, serving commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid patients, to identify practical solutions to address disparities.
Awardees from CHCS initiatives include:
Improving Health Care Quality for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Populations Participants
Excellus Health Plan/Monroe Plan for Medical Care (New York)
UPMC Health Plan (Pennsylvania)
National Health Plan Collaborative Participants
Aetna
CIGNA
Kaiser Permanente
Harvard Pilgrim
United Healthgroup
"These plans have made great strides in using data to uncover disparities and implementing tailored approaches to address the identified gaps in care," said Stephen A. Somers, PhD, president of CHCS. "We applaud the winning plans for their commitment to reducing inequalities in care and for sharing their experiences to help other organizations learn from their successes."
The annual NCQA award, supported by The California Endowment, was created to identify best practices in managed care that address health disparities.