Pawlenty outlines quality purchasing program for health care

07/31/2006

Star Tribune
Last update: July 31, 2006 – 10:46 AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Monday he will require large amounts of state-purchased health care to measure up to quality standards, potentially savings millions in unnecessary care.

Pawlenty unveiled the “QCare” plan at a news conference in Moorhead and was scheduled to speak about it in St. Paul later Monday. He signed an executive order requiring state agencies to use the standards.

The plan focuses on two of the most common and costly medical problems — diabetes and heart disease — as well as preventive care and hospital stays. The state will use existing measurements of quality and require health plans and providers to report more data on costs and outcomes.

It’s designed to pay more for better care and avoid unnecessary care. Until now, state efforts to keep health care costs down have focused mostly on prices, not quality.

A prepared statement from Pawlenty’s office said the state could save more than $153 million a year by following all the standards.

The initiative applies to the state employee heath plan and subsidized programs such as MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance.