State health policies aimed at promoting excellent systems: A report on states’ roles in health systems performance
Catherine Hess, Sonya Schwartz, Jill Rosenthal, Andrew Snyder, Alan Weil
The National Academy for State Health Policy with support from The Commonwealth Fund - April 2008
“…..This report presents findings from the State Health Policies Aimed at Promoting Excellent Systems (SHAPES) project undertaken by the National Academy for State Health Policy with support from The Commonwealth Fund.
The project built on the work of the Commonwealth Fund’s Commission on a High Performance Health System to explore the roles that States play in influencing key health system components such as insurance coverage, quality of care, and information and provider infrastructures.
After conducting surveys of multiple agencies in states across the country, as well as reviewing related literature, the authors found that states are pursuing system improvements across the full spectrum of their authority, including health care purchasing, regulation of providers, reporting of performance data, integration of public health with health care approaches, and improving the availability and affordability of health insurance. Despite this activity, this study finds room for states to do much more. The report also concludes that ongoing efforts to track, study and diffuse information on state activities could accelerate adoption of promising polices and practices. …”
A shorter summary report of themes published by The Commonwealth Fund - States' Roles in Shaping High Performance Health Systems - can be found on the Fund's Web site.
Table of contents
Executive Summary Themes and Noteworthy Findings
Conclusion
Introduction
Background
Methods, organization, and content of the study and report
Coverage
Providing Affordable Health Coverage
Simplifying Enrollment and Improving Retention
Addressing Benefits for Essential Health Services
Quality, Efficiency, and Value
Quality, Efficiency, and Value
Providing Leadership within Quality Collaboratives, Agendas, and Forums
Publicly Reporting Patient Safety and Health Care Quality Measures
Leveraging Purchasing Power Through Contract Requirements and Joint Purchasing
Joint Purchasing
Health Systems Infrastructure
Health Systems Infrastructure
Assuring Access to Providers, Especially for Underserved Populations
Public and Private Coverage of Telehealth Electronic Consultations
Supporting Information Systems and Technology
Health Information Exchange and Technology
Promoting Population Based Health and Disease Prevention
Conclusion
Appendix: Methodology
Conceptual Framework and Background Research
Survey Development, Fielding, Follow-up, and Response
Analysis and Report Writing
Limitations
Notes