The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) will release its analysis of the latest quality results in its State of Health Care Quality Report 2013. Findings include:

• Overuse of antibiotics still a problem
  In findings that echo and corroborate recent CDC warnings about overuse of antibiotics leading to antibiotic resistance, we see no progress on overuse of antibiotics—a substantial safety problem.
• Good news on childhood obesity
  Measures crucial to fighting childhood obesity have improved for the second consecutive year.
• Good, and not so good, news on childhood immunization
  More kids are receiving recommended immunizations for influenza and rotavirus, but we have not seen a full recovery from the alarming decline NCQA found in 2010, in the group of immunizations recommended for children.
• Drop in substance abuse treatment, especially in Medicare
  One of the steepest and most sustained declines over several years has been in rates of people who are eligible for drug and alcohol treatment, receiving treatment. The drop has been largest in Medicare plans, suggesting that America’s fast-growing senior population is more likely not to get needed treatment for addiction.
• More Medicaid enrollees like their care
  Medicaid enrollment is growing, and will continue to grow with implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Fortunately, patients are increasingly happy with the doctors—primary care and specialists—in their Medicaid plans.

The 2013 State of Health Care Quality Report summarizes calendar year 2012 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) results from health plans covering 136 million people, or 43 percent of the U.S. population. HEDIS is health care’s most widely used performance improvement tool.

WHO:		NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane will brief journalists on the report.
		Guest speakers will offer their perspectives on quality.
		— Joseph V. Agostini, Chief Medical Officer for Medicare Collaborations, Aetna
			Aetna is a top performer among Medicare plans and supports its providers in achieving NCQA PCMH Recognition.
		— Charles J. Homer, MD, CEO, National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality
			NICHQ (the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality) is an independent, nonprofit organization working to make children’s health and health care better through quality improvement.
		— Mark A. Lepage, MD, CEO, Security Health Plan
			Security Health Plan is the 10th ranked Medicare plan in the nation, with high marks on CAHPS scores, according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2013–2014.
		— Nora Wells, Co-Director Family Voices National Center for Family Professional Partnerships, Family Voices
			Family Voices aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs or disabilities.
WHEN:		Wednesday, October 23, 2013, via WebEx Conference
		1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
RSVP:		communications@ncqa.org
TO PARTICIPATE: Join the WebEx conference:
		1. Connect to https://ncqaevents.webex.com/ncqaevents/onstage/g.php?d=668132400&t=a
		2. Locate the event: State of Health Care Quality Press Conference.
		3. Enter your information and click JOIN.
		4. The password and confirmation is Sohc2013 (“S” must be capitalized).
		5. Establish your phone connection by calling toll-free 1-866-469-3239.
		6. Enter the access code: 668 132 400.
If you have trouble connecting, call 1-866-229-3239 or e-mail communications@ncqa.org.

ABOUT NCQA

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.