Empower Consumers and Providers - What the Government Should Do
Promote Greater Quality and Cost Transparency
The federal government should continue to partner with the private sector to promote greater quality and cost transparency for consumers and providers. BCBSA is very supportive of the Administration's initiative to build a value-driven healthcare system. This initiative is designed to empower consumers with easily accessible information on healthcare quality and cost.
Given the significant variation in quality and costs among healthcare providers, it is important information be made available to consumers in easy-to-understand formats to help them make informed healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. Specifically, the government should:
- continue using consensus-based quality measures, such as those developed by the National Quality Forum (NQF), the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) and the Ambulatory Quality Alliance (AQA) to promote transparency with patients
- ensure that any price information released is linked to quality and based upon episodes of care rather than per-provider prices
Encourage Adoption of Health Information Technology
A national health information network - with electronic health records (EHRs) in every doctor's office - should be established to support the exchange of information among providers, payers and consumers. To achieve this vision, all stakeholders must be involved to assure the following is attained:
- Interoperable data standards should be used by all stakeholders to support the exchange of information. This must include a workable process and timeline for standards adoption by all.
- Strong, uniform privacy and security policies should be used to assure information is well-protected and to instill trust in the accuracy and integrity of the data.
- Widespread provider adoption, which is the key to achieving a nationwide health IT system, should be established to provide clinical value and increased efficiencies.
- Consumer engagement should be developed so that consumers understand the value and benefits of health IT and are empowered to use IT to make better, more informed health decisions.
