Commonwealth Fund Finds Reform Wanted

The Commonwealth Fund (New York) Health Care Opinion Leaders survey finds leaders united behind several reform measures: 56 percent support the creation of a new public-private entity to form a national quality agenda; 95 percent believe that payment reform is needed; and 73 percent say that greater organization and integration of provider care is necessary for improved quality and efficiency.

The Commonwealth Fund says that the survey found consensus for specific strategies:

• 90 percent of respondents said use of health information technology should be mandated for Medicare providers within five or 10 years
• 51 percent support financial incentives for physicians and hospitals to provide quality care
• 59 percent support public reporting of providers' performance on quality measures
• 7 percent felt that the current Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act was sufficient to guarantee patient safety
• 75 percent felt information about a physician's or hospital's patient safety record should not be confidential
• 73 percent support Medicare reform that would pay "medical homes”— defined as a health care setting that provides patients with organized care and access to providers

Opinion leaders surveyed include experts from four healthcare sectors: academia and research organizations; healthcare delivery; business, insurance and other health industries; and government and advocacy groups, says the company.