HHS Launches Plan To Report Health Care Cost, Quality at Local Level

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday announced a new initiative that would create a system of local quality-improvement collaboratives to provide public reports on the cost and quality of health care. The "Value Exchanges" program would be based on "national coordination (but) local control" and include nurses, physicians and hospitals who collaborate with health plans, employers and other purchasers to establish a reliable public reporting system. The exchanges would use nationally recognized standards to evaluate local health care providers' performance. The exchanges would make public physicians' performance scores, as well as information about the cost of specific services. The exchanges initially would be designated by HHS as "community leaders" and, after demonstrating their ability to collect and measure information, would be chartered as value exchanges. HHS already has named six exchanges nationwide as community leaders. Many more are expected to participate. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality would administer the new program.