The association between quality improvement activities performed by managed care organizations and quality of care.
OBJECTIVE
Little data are available to assess the efforts of managed care organizations to improve quality of care. This analysis assessed differences in performance rates between organizations with and without quality improvement activities.


METHODS
We reviewed 399 self-reported quality improvement activities submitted by organizations seeking accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Processes or outcomes assessed in quality improvement activities were linked to corresponding measures in the effectiveness-of-care database of the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS). Performance rates for managed care organizations with and without quality improvement activities were then compared.


RESULTS
The cross-sectional analysis included 79 quality improvement activities from 50 organizations, covering 12 effectiveness-of-care categories. Each activity had a matching performance score in the database. Financial incentives for providers were associated with substantially higher performance rates in organizations employing this type of intervention. Eight effectiveness-of-care categories had at least four organizations reporting specific quality improvement activities for the care category of interest; statistically significant improvements were observed for follow-up visits for patients after hospitalization for mental illness, checkups after delivery, and screening for cervical cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on objective and audited information, the estimated effects of self-reported quality improvement activities were often small and inconsistent. In some instances, the observed effect was contrary to the expected direction. Limitations of the available dataset and the caveats of a cross-sectional study design precluded a number of analytical options. Longer-term, prospective studies are needed to explore further the relation between quality improvement activities and objective measures of clinical performance.
Borenstein
Jeff
J
Cedars-Sinai Departments of Health Services Research and Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Badamgarav
Enkhe
E
Henning
James M
JM
Gano
Anacleto D
AD
Weingarten
Scott R
SR
D000068:Accreditation; D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019468:Disease Management; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008330:Management Audit; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000458:organization & administration; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States