Patient Safety: Key Aspects of the Policy Agenda Janet M. Corrigan, PhD President and CEO National Quality Forum March 2010

2 Looking Back: What have we accomplished? Safety as a National Priority Public Reporting Payment Alignment Health Information Technology Education and Technical Assistance

3 Looking Back: What have we accomplished? Safety as a National Priority –National Priorities – National Priorities Partnership and IHI –HAI Campaigns -- DHHS and Consumers Union Public Reporting Payment Alignment Health Information Technology Education and Technical Assistance

4 Looking Back: What have we accomplished? Safety as a National Priority Public Reporting –AHRQ National Health Care Quality Report –Hospital Compare –State Initiatives Payment Alignment Health Information Technology Education and Technical Assistance

5 Looking Back: What have we accomplished? Safety as a National Priority Public Reporting Payment Alignment –Pay-for Performance –Non-payment for HACs Health Information Technology Education and Technical Assistance

6 Looking Back: What have we accomplished? Safety as a National Priority Public Reporting Payment Alignment Health Information Technology –American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Education and Technical Assistance

7 Looking Back: What have we accomplished? Safety as a National Priority Public Reporting Payment Alignment Health Information Technology Education and Technical Assistance –AHRQ Programs –Patient Safety Organizations

8 Looking Forward: What might come from health reform? Provisions Related to the Quality Enterprise Healthcare Acquired Conditions Readmissions

9 Looking Forward: What might come from health reform? Provisions Related to the Quality Enterprise –Set national priorities and goals and align federal programs –Support for measure development and endorsement –Extensive public reporting requirements –Value-based purchasing including consultative processes –QI, systems redesign, and health professions education Healthcare Acquired Conditions Readmissions

10 Looking Forward: What might come from health reform? Provisions Related to the Quality Enterprise Healthcare Acquired Conditions –Public reporting –Payment adjustments for hospitals Readmissions

11 Looking Forward: What might come from health reform? Senate Bill Provisions Related to the Quality Enterprise Healthcare Acquired Conditions Readmissions –Reporting requirements for health plans and provider organizations –Reduced payments for preventable readmissions –Hospitals required to implement safety evaluation systems and comprehensive discharge planning –Mandatory QI program for poor performing hospitals

Conclusion Safety is a priority at the national and state levels Health care environment more aligned with achieving safety goals –strong and growing commitment to transparency and payment alignment Strong federal investment in HIT Growing portfolio of best practices, education, and technical assistance programs Policymakers have attempted to strike a balance between “carrots and sticks” 12