Increased transparency is essential

By Paul Pietzsch

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Increased transparency and public reporting on the cost and quality of health care is essential. With transparency comes clarity and accountability.

That is one of the themes of a new report recently completed by the Health Policy Corporation of Iowa (HPCI) titled “Chartbook of the Quality and Financial Performance of the Health Industry in the Greater Iowa Area.”

The purpose of this chartbook is to provide a fact-based resource for all Iowans. It presents information and trends on the quality and financial performance of the health industry in Iowa and the surrounding market area. The chartbook is a compilation of key results from many of the important studies that have been done. It gives an overview of the health industry's performance using accurate, meaningful and relevant information from the most reliable and recent data sources possible.

Health care costs continue to grow at a rapid rate. Our goal is to help promote improvement in the quality and affordability of health care by providing knowledge and understanding of results and to encourage transparency through public reporting.

Among the report's other findings:

l There are many positive aspects of the greater Iowa health industry and tremendous opportunities for improvement.

l Health care cost in Iowa (as measured by insurance premiums) is about the same as the national average and growing at an unsustainable rate.

l There is wide variation in the quality of care in Iowa.

l There is little public information available describing the quality, cost or financial performance of individual physicians and group practices.

l More and better cost information is needed. Consumers and patients are seeking more information on how much they would need to pay for health care services and equipment.

l Health information technology has the potential to dramatically improve health care as well as to increase information and knowledge.

Representatives from six Iowa companies comprised the committee that oversaw the chartbook preparation: American Enterprise Group, CDS Global, Hy-Vee, Iowa Bankers Insurance and Services, Transamerica and Vermeer.

This is the first of what is planned to be many such resources released by HPCI. It establishes a baseline so that change and progress can be measured over time. Also, specific issues and priorities can be identified for improvement by all interest groups and organizations. HPCI intends to follow-up with action steps as well.

The chartbook is available at www.hpci.org.

Paul Pietzsch is president of the Health Policy Corporation of Iowa, an Iowa business group that develops joint initiatives, conducts research and education, and provides solutions to improve the quality and affordability of health care. Comments: pietzsch@hpci.org