Expands comparison tools for 15 local physician networks
DETROIT – August 30, 2007 – Health Alliance Plan (HAP) announced today that it will expand its online information so patients can easily compare local physician networks' performance on important preventive services and chronic disease care measures. HAP is the first area health plan to provide this level of quality performance information to the public.
Beginning August 31, a star rating system will be easily accessible, where the public can see how many stars a network has earned for heart attack care, immunizations, perinatal care, cancer screenings, diabetes management, as well as asthma and antidepressant medication management.
Ratings will be available for the following 15 local networks:
- Botsford General
- Detroit Medical Center
- Eastern Shores (Bon Secours Cottage Health System)
- Genesys Regional Medical Center
- Henry Ford Medical Group
- Huron Valley Physician Association
- Independent Physicians of Macomb (St. Joseph's Mercy of Macomb)
- Monroe (Mercy Memorial Hospital)
- Premier Physicians Network Services (William Beaumont Hospital & Crittenton Hospital)
- Providence (Providence Hospital)
- St. Clair (Mercy Port Huron Hospital, Port Huron Hospital, St. John River District Hospital)
- St. John (St. John Health System)
- St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Physicians (St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital – Oakland)
- United Oakwood Providers, LLC
- Wyandotte (Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital)
"HAP is committed to bringing patients firsthand information about the quality of care provided by physicians and hospitals. Patients who are involved in their medical care and talk with their doctors not only experience better health, they also help doctors and health plans deliver better care and service," said Bala Pai, MD, senior associate medical director at HAP and a practicing pediatrician. "We're proud to partner with first-rate physicians who deliver high quality medical care to our members, yet we are always working to raise the -bar even higher."
Physicians and network medical leaders were informed that HAP would publicly report network-specific physician performance, and were given an opportunity to view their network's 2006 Network Quality Report prior to the Web site posting.
"HAP's expanded network quality rating system is an excellent tool that sparks dialogue between health plan members and their physicians, as well as between physicians and health plans, and ultimately improves the quality of health care," said Pai.
HAP developed the simplified star quality rating system based on Health Employers Data Information Set (HEDIS)® Effectiveness of Care measures. HEDIS is maintained by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This year, the NCQA recommended that all health plans publicly release information on their clinical performance, which will likely lead to improved U.S. health system performance, reduced morbidity and reduced mortality.
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About HAP
Headquartered in Detroit, Health Alliance Plan is a nonprofit health plan serving 576,000 members and 2,800 employer groups. HAP is a subsidiary of the Henry Ford Health System, one of the nation's leading regional health care systems. The health plan serves companies of all sizes through the flagship HMO, PPOs, Medicare Advantage plans, experience-rated, fully insured and self-funded products, and consumer-driven health plans with compatible health savings accounts. The National Committee for Quality Assurance awarded HAP's commercial HMO and HAP Senior Plus, its Medicare Advantage HMO, Excellent Accreditation.
Contact
Tiffany Baker, MA
Public Relations Specialist
(248) 443-1072
tbaker3@hap.org
Susan Schwandt, APR
Public Relations Director
(248) 443-1076
sschwan1@hap.org
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