A Medical Device Daily

Health Benchmarks (HBI; Woodland Hills, California) published results from an observational study evaluating the impact of a physician pay-for-performance program on the quality of care received by patients enrolled in a PPO in the health policy and healthcare science journal Health Services Research.

Dr. Richard Chung, senior VP of the Health Services Division of the Hawaii Medical Service Association (Honolulu),said, "This first significant health services evaluation of a PPO program suggests that the Fee for Service independent practice environment could be preserved and perform in a pay-for-performance culture."

The study found that patients of generalists and specialists who participated in the pay-for-performance program were more likely to receive evidence-based care for all six years (1998-2003) since the program's inception. These results suggest that physician reimbursement models built upon evidence-based care may positively affect the level of care quality received by patients.

Eleven quality indicators, ranging from cancer screening and childhood immunizations to continuous and appropriate medication use and monitoring for chronic conditions were included in the study. These quality indicators were based on widely accepted national clinical guidelines and available scientific literature.

HBI said it develops physician and hospital P4P programs, and delivers real-world business solutions that drive quality and value in healthcare .

BARDA office established at HHS

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt reported the establishment of the office that will manage the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The office will reside under the HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response, and its director will report to the assistant secretary.

The BARDA office will manage Project BioShield, which includes the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents, as well as manage the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures for pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases that fall outside the auspices of Project BioShield.

"The creation of BARDA enhances the opportunity for innovation in our efforts to develop effective medical countermeasures against a host of public health threats, either natural or manmade," Leavitt said.

"I am pleased that Congress recognized the importance of advanced development in the establishment of BARDA, and the President's FY 2008 budget request of $189 million for this purpose will help further the department's efforts to bridge the gap between the National Institutes of Health's research and development programs and Project BioShield."

BARDA will provide an integrated, systematic approach to the development and purchase of the necessary vaccines, drugs, therapies and diagnostic tools for public medical emergencies. It will incorporate all the programs, mission responsibilities and organizational functions previously housed in the HHS Office of Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures, which will be subsumed in the reorganization process.

In addition to establishing the administrative structure for managing BARDA, the department also posted the vacancy announcement to fill the position of BARDA director.

Bill would expand screening reimbursement

A bipartisan group of senators recently introduced legislation that would expand reimbursements for colorectal cancer screening. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Maryland), would set reimbursements for colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic tests at levels similar to what Medicare paid in 1997, when the benefit originally was enacted.

Cardin in a release said that payment rates for the procedure have declined by more than 33% since then.

Under the measure, colorectal cancer screening procedures would be exempt from the customary Medicare deductible requirement regardless of the outcome of screening. Additionally, the legislation calls for Medicare to cover a preoperative visit or consultation before a screening or colonoscopy.

Cardin said, "This bill not only increases access to colon cancer screenings for millions of Americans but will also save the Medicare system millions of dollars that would otherwise be spent on treating late-stage colon cancer."