TY - JOUR
T1 - Variation in pediatric asthma quality improvement programs by managed care plans
AU - Cabana, Michael D.
AU - Dombkowski, Kevin J.
AU - Yoon, Esther Y.
AU - Clark, Sarah J.
PY - 2005/7
Y1 - 2005/7
N2 - Although asthma quality improvement (QI) programs are common, little is known about the scope and content of QI initiatives in managed care arrangements. The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of all managed care plans in Michigan serving the pediatric Medicaid population. Using semi-structured interviews, they assessed the comprehensiveness of the asthma QI program regarding provider, allied health professional, pharmacy, and member services. Although all QI initiatives included some type of physician-directed component and patient- directed components, only half included allied health professionals and one quarter included pharmacy-directed components. Interactive physician continuing medical education was associated with plans whose members were concentrated in only 1 or 2 counties. The authors noted wide variation in content, format, inclusion of incentives, inclusion of other health professionals, and outcome goals. The variation in QI approaches by each of the managed care organizations suggests that there is a dearth of information on appropriate and cost-effective methods to improve pediatric asthma quality at the plan level.
AB - Although asthma quality improvement (QI) programs are common, little is known about the scope and content of QI initiatives in managed care arrangements. The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of all managed care plans in Michigan serving the pediatric Medicaid population. Using semi-structured interviews, they assessed the comprehensiveness of the asthma QI program regarding provider, allied health professional, pharmacy, and member services. Although all QI initiatives included some type of physician-directed component and patient- directed components, only half included allied health professionals and one quarter included pharmacy-directed components. Interactive physician continuing medical education was associated with plans whose members were concentrated in only 1 or 2 counties. The authors noted wide variation in content, format, inclusion of incentives, inclusion of other health professionals, and outcome goals. The variation in QI approaches by each of the managed care organizations suggests that there is a dearth of information on appropriate and cost-effective methods to improve pediatric asthma quality at the plan level.
KW - Asthma
KW - Children
KW - Managed care organizations
KW - Quality improvement
KW - Quality of care
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U2 - 10.1177/1062860605277077
DO - 10.1177/1062860605277077
M3 - Article
C2 - 16020677
AN - SCOPUS:24644515998
SN - 1062-8606
VL - 20
SP - 204
EP - 209
JO - American Journal of Medical Quality
JF - American Journal of Medical Quality
IS - 4
ER -