 |
|
Toward Evidence-Based Policy Making and Standardized Assessment of Health Policy Reform
J. Frank Wharam, MB, BCh, BAO, MPH;
Norman Daniels, PhD
JAMA. 2007;298:676-679.
|
|
| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings. |
|
|
|
In the United States, deficiencies in health care quality, value, and access are well documented.1-5 Recent trends such as pay-for-performance, increased patient cost-sharing, and state health insurance expansion programs may represent important reforms and even a "tipping point" for the US health care system.6-7 Nevertheless, experts have cautioned that not only could unintended consequences occur but that no systems are in place to ensure accountability among policy makers.6, 8-9
For example, a company switches its workers to high-deductible health plans. Because of increased out-of-pocket costs, a low-income employee with diabetes begins deferring care, resulting in worsened blood glucose control. Meanwhile, the employee's physician is paid more if a certain proportion of his or her patients with diabetes achieve glycated hemoglobin levels below 7%. Two outcomes are possible: the physician may continue to care for such patients and accept lower compensation or . . . [Full Text of this Article] Current Approaches to Improving Health Policy
Author Affiliations: Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Dr Wharam); and Department of Population and International Health, Harvard School of Public Health (Dr Daniels), Boston, Massachusetts.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
The GAAP in Quality Measurement and Reporting
Pronovost et al.
JAMA 2007;298:1800-1802.
FULL TEXT
|
