In Brief: DMHC Awards Health Plans, Medical Groups; Kaiser Tops Equity Index
DMHC Awards Health Plans, Medical Groups For Improved Outcomes
The Department of Managed Health Care has issued its annual “Right Care Initiative” awards to health plans and medical groups that met standards for controlling blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol and avoiding strokes, heart attacks and diabetic complications.
The goal of the Right Care Initiative is for all health plans and medical groups statewide to score in the 90th percentile of performance in the prevention of heart attacks, strokes and complications from diabetes, based on data from HEDIS and the Integrated Healthcare Association’s pay for performance program.
Among insurers, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan’s northern California division took the gold award, while its Southern California division took the silver award. Sharp Health Plan in San Diego took third place.
Among medical groups, Edinger Medical Group and Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group both took top awards.
Eighteen other medical groups were cited for their advances in controlling blood pressure and blood sugar.
“Effectively managing chronic conditions not only improves the quality of life for patients, it also helps to lower costs,” said DMHC Director Shelley Rouillard.
Kaiser Receives Perfect Score In Equity Index
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has awarded a perfect score to Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente regarding workplace equality for its LGBT employees.
Kaiser is one of about 400 companies nationwide to receive a perfect score out of more than 1,100 surveyed. Altogether, 11 healthcare companies received perfect scores. Aside from Kaiser, two others are based in California: CareFusion Corp. in San Diego and McKesson Corp. in San Francisco.
"We are proud to be recognized for our industry-leading diversity and inclusion practices,” said Ronald Copeland, M.D., senior vice president and chief Diversity and Inclusion officer. Cultivating the growth and well-being of all of our employees regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity is increasingly part of our culture and strategic priorities."
Many Exhange Enrollees Would Save Money By Switching Plans
A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation has concluded that many current enrollees in silver-level plans in state health insurance exchanges will see an average premiums increase of 15% year-over-year.
However, the study suggested that many consumers could avoid steep premium increases by shopping around, particularly since the lowest-cost silver plan often shifts from carrier to carrier.
As a result of shopping around, the average 40-year-old consumer could save as much as $322 in premium costs for 2016, and some consumers could save as much as $500 over the next calendar year by switching.
