CMS launches tools and initiatives to help improve American health care quality

[cbayer]

Don Berwick is doing some great things at CMS. He deserves our support, imo.

http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/hi_16/archive/2011/08/05/cms-launches-tools-and-initiatives-to-help-improve-american-health-care-quality.aspx

August 5, 2011 2:25 PM by Lisa Algeo

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new tool for patients and caregivers and other enhanced initiatives today to empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care, and to help improve the quality of care in America’s hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, and other health care settings.

"These tools are new ways CMS is making sure consumers have information about health care quality and important information they need to make the best decisions about where to receive high-quality care," said Dr. Don Berwick, the CMS Administrator. "These efforts are designed to also encourage providers to deliver safe, patient-centered care that consumers can rely on and will motivate improvement across our health care system."

The steps announced today include:

· A Quality Care Finder to provide consumers with one online destination to access all of Medicare’s Compare tools -- comparison information on hospitals, nursing homes and plans:
· An updated Hospital Compare website, which now includes data about how well hospitals protect outpatients from surgical infections and whether hospitals care for outpatients who are treated for suspected heart attacks with proven therapies that reduce death

More at link

[Lint Head]

1. Why would CMS allow Blue Cross Blue Shield to buy CIGNA's Medicare

contract out right when BCBS is being sued by the Department of Justice for price fixing and antitrust violations?

BCBS took over CGS Medicare June 1st, 2011. Insurance companies have to bid for federal contracts just like Boeing or McDonnell Douglas.

BCBS bought this contract outright. That means a any company can bid for a federal contract then turn around and sell it to the highest bidder. This should be illegal.