Quality Improvement Organizations, or QIO’s are an important facet of the American public health system. What exactly is a QIO and what is its function? Read on for more.
QIO Basics and History
Since their creation, medicaid and medicare programs are our society’s tools for maintaining public health and wellness despite such barriers as:
- demographic
- social
- financial
One program is built around caring for the aging while the other focuses on providing healthcare for the financially challenged.
The government discovered that it needed a way to accurately evaluate and make any needed adjustments regarding the overall administration of these two healthcare programs. Enter the QIO’s. Quality Improvement Organizations were introduced as a tool of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS for the evaluation and subsequent maintenance of the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Understanding the levels of service provided as well as the strength and weaknesses of these two healthcare programs are key priorities. The ultimate goal is assurance that Medicare and Medicaid patients receive excellent, competitive healthcare. It helps assure the overall administration of the two programs is also efficient and effective. As a result, the formation and deployment of a QIO consists of the formation of a CMS-overseen group. That group will investigate, survey, and analyze the use of these two programs. A contractor is often specifically hired for this. Once all data is gathered, it is then submitted to the CMS for further action if deemed necessary.
Congressional Reporting
The QIO program of the CMS is itself also monitored for efficiency and efficacy. This is achieved through a yearly report provided to congress for review. These are reported to congress:
- yearly QIO costs
- program methods
- outcomes, and more
For a list of these publicly accessible, yearly reports, one can look to this same CMS website link, and refer to the section titled “QIO Reports to Congress.”
Past Works
Along with current objectives and program parameters, the CMS also provides a general summary of its past QIO endeavors and accomplishments. Past focus of QIO efforts were more focused on quality in:
- nursing homes
- home healthcare
- physician practices
- hospitals
It is reported that many opportunities for improvement were found in these areas. Many regulations were subsequently implemented to correct identified shortcomings. They helped improve the overall Medicare and Medicaid experience.
Future Works
Current and future QIO missions are also plainly stated for public knowledge by the CMS. Right now, the CMS is in the midst of a restructuring and self-assessment period itself. To assure its own QIO efficacy, the CMS lists its comprehensive, self-analysis efforts. Of particular interest to the CMS is the harvesting of outside input and opinion. The center openly requests here that anyone with insights or relevant ideas feel comfortable in presenting their concept to the center. These current and future goals are in contrast to the main focuses in the past with regard to the actual healthcare field and its providers.
QIO’s are the tools with which our government can assess the use of today’s Medicaid and Medicare programs. This serves the patients. It also promotes excellence in the healthcare industry. It safeguards against the waste of public resources and taxpayer dollars. For more information on Quality Improvement Organizations or their parent agency, the CMS, visit the official CMS website by following the links above or by entering the center’s homepage.