Tracking Reform
Quality Improvement
MMA Comments on Proposed Quality Measures
In September, the MMA provided comments to the Minnesota Department of Health on the proposed 2011 Minnesota Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System administrative rules.
The MMA supports provisions such as the use of composite measures for optimal diabetes care, optimal vascular care, depression remission at six months, and colorectal cancer screening. Additionally, the MMA supports the revised definition of “physician clinic” that would allow groups with multiple sites and 20 or fewer full-time clinicians to report as a single site. Previously, Department of Health officials set the limit at 10 full-time clinicians per site.
However, the MMA is encouraging the Department of Health to monitor the asthma measure’s validity before requiring its use. The MMA is also concerned that the patient experience of care measure will place an excessive financial burden on many practices. The state is requiring practices to use a CMS-approved vendor to implement the patient experience survey and include at least 217 survey responses from a minimum sample size of 625 patients. Conducting the survey could cost practices as much as $5,000.
Peer Grouping Details Emerge Slowly
Representatives from the MMA are serving on a Rapid Response Team that is providing feedback to the Minnesota Department of Health on peer grouping methodological issues, such as how the Department of Health intends to attribute a patient’s total annual cost of care to primary care or multispecialty clinics based on the proportion of E&M visits billed by the clinic. The department has yet to clarify its definition of a primary care clinic or address a number of other issues.
Federal Reform
Work Groups Explore Federal Reform Options
Three new work groups have been created by the Legislative Commission on Health Care Access to explore options for implementing the federal health care reform law. The new Health Insurance Work Group, Payment Reform Work Group, and a Workforce Shortage Work Group are composed of lawmakers, MMA members, and community members. The groups are expected to make their final recommendations to the commission in December.