Quality Oversight in Managed Care: The Role of Interagency Coordination
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) undertook the Quality Assurance in Practice Project to learn about state efforts to meet the new challenges of health care regulation and purchasing. Specifically, the project aimed to gather information about state efforts to coordinate quality of care oversight for managed care across multiple agencies. Our goal was to use this information to guide similar state efforts in the future by providing insight into what has worked for successful states. While we looked specifically at responsibilities relating to HMO quality, it is possible that efforts of states to coordinate these functions can provide a helpful example for other aspects of managed care oversight.
| 1999.Jun_.quality.oversight.managed.care_.interagency.coordination.pdf | 10.2 MB |
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
