Health Care for Alls Consumer Health Quality Initiative

1
Health Care for Alls Consumer Health Quality
Initiative

• Deborah Wachenheim
• Consumer Health Quality Coordinator

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HCFA and Access to Care

• HCFA known for work on access to healthcare
  (includes childrens health and dental health)
• Chapter 58 health reform HCFA was the driving
  force behind this legislation signed into law
  April 2006
• Chapter 58 Goal to provide insurance coverage to
  almost all MA residents

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HCFA and Quality of Care

• Access to high quality care-next step
• E-health work started January 2006
• Broader quality initiative started August 2006
• Staff
• Consumer Health Quality Coordinator
• Consumer Health Quality Organizer
• E-health Advocate

4
MA Quality World

• Just some of the quality organizations/initiatives
  in MA
• MA Quality and Cost Council
• MA Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors
• MA Health Quality Partners
• Masspro
• Eastern MA Healthcare Initiative
• Also e-health organizations and a number of other
  government initiatives
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement-based in MA
• see handout with descriptions of organizations

5
Consumer Health Quality Council

• The main component of our quality work
• Individuals who have been impacted by poor
  quality healthcare and are motivated to work with
  us to advocate for change
• Unique coalition for HCFA
• Have met three times-approx. 20 members and
  growing
• Grow into statewide grassroots movement
• Diversity in views, healthcare experiences, and
  demographics

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Consumer Health Quality Council

• Educated and informed group of advocates and
  spokespersons
• Will advocate for change and will educate other
  consumers
• Quality 101-overview for new members and for use
  in presentations to other consumers
• Developing curriculum for consumer council

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Consumer Council Advocacy

• Self-advocacy provide resources for individuals
  to become advocates for themselves and others
• Advocacy for systemic change
• Involve consumers in ongoing QI projects and
  organizations
• Facilitate meetings between consumers and power
  players in health care (policymakers, providers,
  purchasers, and plans)
• Activate other consumers

8
Consumer Council Advocacy

• Much will be consumer council-driven
• Looking for edgy and new ways to bring consumer
  voice to quality improvement
• Demands for public reporting, transparency in all
  healthcare settings
• Consumer Council will participate in forums,
  house meetings, and other events to recruit,
  educate and activate broader public

9
Consumer Council Advocacy

• An Act Promoting Transparency and
  Consumer/Provider Partnerships
• Filed in MA legislature Jan. 10, 2007
• Overview
• Infection reporting and reduction
• Never events reporting
• Apology
• Mandatory disclosure
• Rapid Response Teams
• Patient and Family Councils

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Other Components of Quality Initiative

• Advisory committee 12 quality experts in
  Massachusetts with variety of experience and
  perspectives
• Action Network action alerts to general public
• Website
• Monthly Quality Newsletter

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Model for Other States

• HCFA hopes to share its experiences with
  organizations in other states and grow this into
  a national movement of consumers demanding high
  quality healthcare

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For More Information

• Deborah Wachenheim
• dwachenheim_at_hcfama.org
• 617-275-2902
• www.hcfama.org