Page 66

60 Quality improvement strategies should include the establishment of quantified quality improvement goals for the plan or the State and provider education. Other strategies include specific purchasing specifications, ongoing contract monitoring mechanisms, focus groups, etc.

Where States use managed care organizations to deliver CHIP care, recent legal changes require the State to use managed care quality standards and quality strategies similar to those used in Medicaid managed care.

Tools for Evaluating and Monitoring Quality- Tools and types of information available include, HEDIS (Health Employer Data Information Set) measures, CAHPS (Consumer Assessments of Health Plans Study) measures, vital statistics data, and State health registries (e.g., immunization registries).

Quality monitoring may be done by external quality review organizations, or, if the State wishes, internally by a State board or agency independent of the State CHIP Agency. Establishing grievance measures is also an important aspect of monitoring.

Check here if the State elects to use funds provided under Title XXI only to provide expanded eligibility under the State’s Medicaid plan, and continue on to Section 8.

Guidance: The State must specify the qualifications of entities that will provide coverage and the conditions of participation. States should also define the quality standard they are using, for example, NCQA Standards or other professional standards. Any description of the information strategies used should be linked to Section 9. (Section 2102(a)(7)(A)) (42CFR, 457.495)

7.1. Describe the methods (including external and internal monitoring) used to assure the quality and appropriateness of care, particularly with respect to well-baby care, well-child care, and immunizations provided under the plan. (Section 2102(a)(7)(A)) (42CFR 457.495(a)) Will the State utilize any of the following tools to assure quality? (Check all that apply and describe the activities for any categories utilized.)

CA RESPONSE:

The state views the use of quality standards, performance measurement information strategies, and quality improvement strategies as critical components to transforming access to health plan coverage from the provision of access to the creation of a medical home. Below is a description of how California uses a number of tools and strategies in CHIP to ensure health care coverage translates to meaningful access to necessary services.