ORGANIZATIONS THAT DISSEMINATE HEALTH PLAN DATA
Their information is generally derived from satisfaction
surveys, Hedis performance measures (see glossary), and
other data supplied by health plans. Some of the employer
coalitions and purchasing groups also disseminate data through
report cards they give to employees (see also "Employer
Coalitions and Purchasing Groups").
Center for the Study of Services
733 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, (202) 347-7283,
fax (202) 347-4000, Web site: www.checkbook.org.
Public relations associate Dorothy Miller; president Robert
Krughoff. Publishes "Consumers Guide to Health Plans" and
"Guide to Health Insurance Plans for Federal Employees"
based on satisfaction surveys of federal employees.
Consumer Reports
Publishes satisfaction data derived from surveys of Consumers
Union members, publishes cost and benefit information on
Medicare HMOs, and information about health plan quality
improvement activities. Has also rated HMO coverage available
to individuals who are not part of employer groups.
Health Care Financing Administration
Government agency will soon be distributing results of
CAHPS (consumer assessment of health plans) survey of Medicare
beneficiaries. HCFA may also disseminate Hedis data, reporting
performance measures that are specific to the Medicare population.
Health Pages
821 Broadway, 9th floor, New York, N.Y. 10003, (212) 505-0103,
fax (212) 505-2546, Web site: www.thehealthpages.com,
e-mail: hlthpgs @bway.net. Publisher/editor Martin Schneider.
Now affiliated with Medical Economics, a publication
for doctors, Health Pages distributes a variety of data
on health plans and health services incorporating surveys
and Hedis performance results. Some newspaper Web sites
link to Health Pages data.
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
201 W. Preston St., Baltimore, Md. 21201, (410) 767-6490,
fax (410) 333-7525. Director of public relations Tori Leonard;
for report card information call John Colmers (401) 764-3460.
Distributes report card on thirteen HMOs operating in the
state, using Hedis and consumer satisfaction data.
National Committee for Quality Assurance
2000 L St. NW, Washington D.C. 20036, (202) 955-3500, fax
(202) 955-3599, Web site: www.ncqa.org.
NCQA collects the Health Employer Data and Information Set
(Hedis), which measures such things as preventive services,
member satisfaction, and the number of procedures a plan
performs. Releases the data in a product it sells called
"Quality Compass." Not all plans allow NCQA to release their
results.
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 360, Trenton, N.J. 08625, (609) 292-7837, fax
(609) 633-0807, Communications officer Rita Mano (609) 984-7160;
research and development officer Frances Prestianni (609)
984-7914. Distributes report card on twelve HMOs operating
in the state, using data from Hedis and member satisfaction
surveys.
Newsweek
Publishes annual evaluation of health plans using a combination
of Hedis measures and information gathered from questionnaires
sent to HMOs.
Utah Department of Health
288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114, (801) 538-6689,
fax (801) 538-9916, Web site: www.healthdata.state.ut.us.
Director of the office of health data analysis Denise Love;
research director health data analysis Luis Paita. Publishes
report card on four HMOs operating in the state using Hedis
and consumer satisfaction data.
Texas Office of Public Insurance Council
333 Guadalupem St., Austin, Tex. 78701, (512) 322-4143,
fax (512) 322-4148, Web site: www.opic.state.tx.us.
Contact: insurance counsel Rod Bordelon. Releases report
cards on thirty-four HMOs in the state. Report card uses
results of satisfaction surveys and notes consumer complaints.
U.S. News & World Report
Publishes an annual fall ranking of health plans using
primarily Hedis data obtained from NCQA.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT EVALUATE HMO FINANCIAL STABILITY
These organizations can give you a handle on financial
aspects of individual HMOs.
A.M. Best
Ambest Road, Oldwick, N.J. 08858, (908) 439-2200, fax (908)
439-3363, Web site: www.ambest.com.
Press contact: Jeff Dunsavage (908) 439-2200 ext. 5618.
Rates the financial stability of 128 HMOs and publishes
Best's Managed Care Reports and Best's Aggregates &
Averages -- HMO. Publications contain financial information
about the companies.
Standard & Poor's
25 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10004, (212) 208-8000, Contact:
managing director William O'Neill (212) 208-1367, fax (212)
412-0547. Rates the financial solvency of about 100 of the
country's health care plans. Best way for journalists to
get up-to-date information on ratings is through the Insurance
News Network, www.insure.com.
Weiss Ratings, Inc.
4176 Burns Rd., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 33410, (561) 627-3300,
(800) 289-9222, fax (561) 625-6685. Contact: Elizabeth Kelley
Grace (561) 989-9855. Evaluates 421 HMOs for financial solvency.
