URAC extends support to develop and standardize health care quality improvement measures

Aug 21 2009

URAC, the nation's leading healthcare accreditation and education organization, announced today that it has joined the more than 180 organizations supporting Stand for Quality. Stand for Quality is made up of organizations including AARP, the American Medical Association, National Consumers League, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that represent every segment of the health care industry. Together the coalition is calling on the Obama Administration and Congress to create a robust national infrastructure for developing and standardizing health care quality improvement measures and reporting, promoting organizational transparency and accountability, and ensuring better educated providers and patients.

"Stand for Quality's patient-centered, quality-focused framework for reforming health care is in complete alignment with URAC's programs. We share a commitment to bring safe, effective, efficient, and affordable care to all Americans," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC President and CEO. "Like Stand for Quality, URAC believes that standardized measures and public reporting are critical in establishing a strong foundation for sharing what works best clinically -- giving providers and patients the information they need to make optimal care decisions."

Already, Stand for Quality has had a major impact on Congress. An extensive set of quality-related provisions are included in both the House's and Senate's draft health care reform legislation. The organization's recommendations outlined in its report, Building a Foundation for High Quality, Affordable Health Care: Linking Performance Measurement to Health Reform, work to create an integrated coalition that will provide health care providers and consumers with the knowledge to make informed decisions about industry reform.

Some of the key recommendations that align with URAC's goals include the following:

• Performance measurement is a core building block to provide high quality affordable health care;
• Investment in health information technology should be linked to improving care; and
• Measurement of performance is key to improving quality and reducing costs.

"URAC believes this is the most critical time to raise the bar on health care in the United States. By joining the chorus of diverse, credible voices represented by Stand for Quality, individually taking steps to improve care within our own domains, and working along with Congress and the Administration, there is a great opportunity to create the world class health care system we all desire," said Alan Spielman. "Alongside Stand for Quality, URAC is committed to more transparency and accountability in health care, and clear quality standards for all health care providers."

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