More About the Project

The Healthcare Disparities and Cultural Competency Consensus Standards project seeks to expand on NQF’s previous work where a set of criteria to evaluate disparities-sensitive measures was identified and 35 disparity-sensitive measures for the ambulatory care setting were endorsed (National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Ambulatory Care – Measuring Healthcare Disparities). This project will begin with a commissioned paper outlining the methodological concerns with measuring disparities, such as implications of risk adjustment and stratification, unintended consequences of public reporting, and data collection; and revising the NQF disparities-sensitive evaluation criteria. This commissioned paper will help inform future efforts on developing and endorsing performance measures for disparities and cultural competency.

Nominations are due by Friday, March, 18, at 6:00 pm ET and must be submitted online through the NQF website.

For more information and to submit your nominations, click here

Special thanks to Darlene Butts at Ke Ali`i Maka`ainana Hawaiian Civic Club for sharing. Please see below for the entire press release:

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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Diane Swanbrow
swanbrow@umich.edu
734-647-9069
University of Michigan

Native Hawaiians: Vulnerability to early death at all ages

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Throughout their lives, Native Hawaiians have higher risks of death than white Americans, according to a University of Michigan study.

The research is the first known study to assess mortality patterns among Native Hawaiians at the national level, including those living outside the state of Hawaii.

The study is published in the November 2010 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, online Sept. 16. It was funded by the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health.

“Native Hawaiians are far more likely than whites to suffer early death,” said demographer Sela Panapasa, an assistant research scientist at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR) and lead author of the article. “Like Black Americans, they are also much more likely than whites to die in mid- and later-life.”

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, the study shows that Native Hawaiian infants less than one year old and young people between the ages of 15 and 34 are particularly vulnerable to early death compared with corresponding age groups of white Americans.

“We also found that older Native Hawaiians have higher expected death rates than either Blacks or whites age 65 and over, suggesting that relatively fewer of this group have benefited from the increased longevity enjoyed by the rest of the nation,” said Panapasa, who is a Pacific Islander of Polynesian heritage.

“These results support the idea that renewed efforts are needed to better understand the specific causes and risk factors of increased mortality among Native Hawaiians and other high risk minority populations, including Pacific Islanders, Southeast Asians, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives,” Panapasa said. “They should also prompt further investigation into the precursors of premature mortality among Native Hawaiians, including access to health care and prenatal care, socioeconomic status, and the impact of colonization, oppression and other social determinants on health outcomes.”

Panapasa’s co-authors are Marjorie Mau of the University of Hawaii, David Williams of Harvard University, and James McNally of U-M’s ISR.

Pacific Islanders in the United States are a distinct and rapidly growing population, Panapasa noted. Based on the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 874,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Native Hawaiians represent the largest sector (46 percent) of this population.

Until 1996, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were aggregated with the larger U.S. Asian population. “Because of their relatively small numbers, their social, economic, and health status has been chronically under-represented in national surveys and distinctive patterns have been missed,” Panapasa said.

“As the U.S. becomes increasingly diverse both racially and ethnically, this type of analysis allows for new insights into the underpinnings of differences in morbidity and mortality,” Panapasa said. “It offers an opportunity to identify how best to reduce health concerns and disparities in racially diverse populations.”

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Panapasa is currently conducting a broader study of Pacific Islander American health, based on a random sample of Tongan and Samoan households in California. The study is being funded by the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF).

Established in 1949, the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR) is the world’s largest academic social science survey and research organization, and a world leader in developing and applying social science methodology, and in educating researchers and students from around the world. ISR conducts some of the most widely-cited studies in the nation, including the Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, the American National Election Studies, the Monitoring the Future Study, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the Health and Retirement Study, the Columbia County Longitudinal Study and the National Survey of Black Americans. ISR researchers also collaborate with social scientists in more than 60 nations on the World Values Surveys and other projects, and the Institute has established formal ties with universities in Poland, China, and South Africa. ISR is also home to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the world’s largest digital social science data archive. Visit the ISR Web site at http://www.isr.umich.edu/ for more information.

NHMA 14th Annual Conference

“Health Care Transformation to Improve Prevention and Health Promotion for the Hispanic Community”

Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC

March 25-28, 2010.

Join Hispanic physicians, medical students, nurses, policymakers, and healthcare industry representatives at our annual conference. This year, NHMA celebrates its 14^th Conference with partners from the Federal and State governments and the private sector. The conference brings together experts from across the nation to share their experience in eliminating health disparities for Hispanics.

CME accreditation will be provided.

Hispanics have become the largest ethnic group in the United States and there is a great need to understand how to deliver culturally competent health care services to them. Learn from experts from across the country on how to enhance academic programs, community-based research, medical practices, and health policies targeting Hispanics.

The CMS proposed rule and fact sheets, may be viewed at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp.  ONC’s interim final rule may be viewed at http://healthit.hhs.gov/standardsandcertification. In early 2010 ONC intends to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking related to the certification of health information technology.

See below for more info.

DATE: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
FOR RELEASE: Immediately
Contact:  HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

CMS and ONC Issue Regulations Proposing a Definition of ‘Meaningful Use’ and Setting Standards for Electronic Health Record Incentive Program

Public Encouraged to Comment on New Regulations

The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourage public comment on two regulations issued today that lay a foundation for improving quality, efficiency and safety through meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. The regulations will help implement the EHR incentive programs enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

A proposed rule issued by CMS outlines proposed provisions governing the EHR incentive programs, including defining the central concept of “meaningful use” of EHR technology. An interim final regulation (IFR) issued by ONC sets initial standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology.  Both regulations are open to public comment.

“Widespread adoption of electronic health records holds great promise for improving health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety,” said, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P.  “The Recovery Act’s financial incentives demonstrate Congress’ and the Administration’s commitment to help providers adopt and make meaningful use of EHR technology so they can give better care and their patients’ experience of care will improve. Over time, we believe the EHR incentive program under Medicare and Medicaid will accelerate and facilitate health information technology adoption by more individual providers and organizations throughout the health care system.”

“These regulations are closely linked,” said Charlene Frizzera, CMS acting administrator.  “CMS’s proposed regulation would define and specify how to demonstrate ‘meaningful use’ of EHR technology, which is a prerequisite for receiving the Medicare incentive payments.  Our rule also outlines the proposed payment methodologies for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.  ONC’s regulation sets forth the standards and specifications that will enhance the interoperability, functionality, utility and security of health information technology.”

CMS and ONC worked closely to develop the two rules and received input from hundreds of technical subject matters experts, health care providers, and other key stakeholders.  Numerous public meetings to solicit public comment were held by three Federal advisory committees: the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), the Health IT Policy Committee (HITPC), and the Health IT Standards Committee (HITSC).  HITSC presented its final recommendations to the National Coordinator in August 2009.  These recommendations, along with all other input were considered to help inform the development of the regulations announced today.

The IFR issued by ONC describes the standards that must be met by certified EHR technology to exchange healthcare information among providers and between providers and patients. This initial set of standards begins to define a common language to ensure accurate and secure health information exchange across different EHR systems.  The IFR describes standard formats for clinical summaries and prescriptions; standard terms to describe clinical problems, procedures, laboratory tests, medications and allergies; and standards for the secure transportation of this information using the Internet.

The IFR calls for the industry to standardize the way in which HER information is exchanged between organizations, and sets forth criteria required for an EHR technology to be certified. These standards will support meaningful use and data exchange among providers who must use certified EHR technology to qualify for the Medicare and Medicaid incentives.

Under the statute, HHS is required to adopt an initial set of standards for EHR technology by Dec. 31, 2009.  The IFR will go into effect 30 days after publication, with an opportunity for public comment and refinement over the next 60 days.  A final rule will be issued in 2010.”We strongly encourage stakeholders to provide comments on these standards and specifications,” Dr. Blumenthal said.

The Recovery Act established programs to provide incentive payments to eligible professionals and eligible hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid that adopt and make “meaningful use” of certified HER technology.  Incentive payments may begin as soon as October 2010 to eligible hospitals.  Incentive payments to other eligible providers may begin in January 2011.

The proposed rule would define the term “meaningful EHR user” as an eligible professional or eligible hospital that, during the specified reporting period, demonstrates meaningful use of certified HER technology in a form and manner consistent with certain objectives and measures presented in the regulation.  These objectives and measures would include use of certified EHR technology in a manner that improves quality, safety, and efficiency of health care delivery, reduces health care disparities, engages patients and families, improves care coordination, improves population and public health, and ensures adequate privacy and security protections for personal health information.

The proposed rule would define meaningful use for the Medicare HER incentive programs.  It proposes one definition that would apply to eligible professionals participating in the Medicare fee-for-service and the Medicare Advantage EHR incentive programs as well as a proposed definition that would apply to eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals.  These definitions also would serve as the minimum standard for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals participating in the Medicaid EHR incentive program.  The rule proposes that states could request CMS approval to implement additional meaningful use measures, as appropriate, but could not request approval of fewer or less rigorous meaningful use measures than required by the rule.

This rule proposes a phased approach to implement the proposed requirements for demonstrating meaningful use.  This approach would initially establish reasonable criteria for meaningful use based on currently available technological capabilities and providers’ practice experience.  CMS will establish stricter and more extensive criteria for demonstrating meaningful use over time, as anticipated developments in technology and providers’ capabilities occur.

CMS provides a 60-day comment period on the proposed rule.  “The definition and requirements for demonstrating meaningful use of HER technology are proposals. CMS welcomes and will give serious consideration to comments that improve our proposal while achieving the goals Congress established for the EHR incentive programs,” Frizzera said.

The CMS proposed rule and fact sheets, may be viewed at <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp>

ONC’s interim final rule may be viewed at <http://healthit.hhs.gov/standardsandcertification>. In early 2010 ONC intends to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking related to the certification of health information technology.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest data on income, poverty, and health coverage.

Our new fact sheet, Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers takes a closer look at the latest data and finds that communities of color continue to bear the brunt of the uninsured crisis. This fact sheet looks at who is uninsured, who is living in poverty, and why public programs are vital to communities of color.

As Congress continues to debate about how to best improve our nation’s health care system, we’re presented with the opportunity to eliminate disparities in health coverage and address other inequities in the system.

We hope you find this a valuable resource in your work to achieve health equity.

To download the new fact sheet, click here.

The bill bows to hateful sentiments by preventing undocumented immigrants from using the national exchange to purchase, even at full price, health insurance for themselves or their families. It also sets up new paperwork requirements that might keep some citizens from accessing coverage. This is not what our country stands for. The House and Senate HELP Committee health reform bills are ones we can build upon. But this is one we can’t. Tell our senators TODAY to stand for what is right and pass a health reform bill that helps everyone!

Calls needed TODAY to:

Senator Dianne Feinstein
(202) 224-3841

Senator Barbara Boxer
(202) 224-3553

Key messages:
.    All Americans, including immigrants, need better access to culturally competent, quality health care.
.    Taxpayer dollars should not be spent on complex verification schemes aimed solely at appeasing groups that are not negotiating in good faith.
.    Reform must move forward and provide coverage we can afford, benefits we can count on, and the choice of a national public option!

Your call really does matter. Please take a moment and make that call!
More information on the health reform bills now in Congress can be found at www.cpehn.org.

Let us know if you took action by emailing Marty Martinez at mmartinez@cpehn.org.

Guest presenters: Kalahn Taylor-Clark from the Engelberg Center for Healthcare Reform, Rita Carreon from America’s Health Insurance Plans, and Sarah Scholle from the NCQA will present and lead a discussion on the collection of racial and ethnic data by health plans.

We will also be discussing the current political scene regarding disaggregated data collection and the IOM’s new report on Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data: Standardization for Health Care Quality Improvement (release date 08/31/09). More information at  <http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3809/61110/72560.aspx>

Date: Friday, September 18, 2009
Time: Noon – 2pm EST
Location: America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
South Building, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20004
Conference Room 5B

We are located between 6th and 7th Street and close to the Green/Yellow Line – Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter or Red Line – Gallery Place/Chinatown or Judiciary Square

Conference-calling will still be available.

To RSVP, please email: alee@outofmany1.org

Date: Monday, July 27, 2009
Time: Noon – 2pm EST
Location: OMO/SHIRE
1776 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 615
Washington DC 20036

Conference call in will also be available. Lunch will also be provided.

Please call SHIRE: 202-371-0277 if you need assistance on the day of the meeting.
Email Angela (alee@outofmany1.org) for more information or to RSVP.

The Annual Conference will be held July 25 – 28 at McCormick Place West in downtown Chicago, IL.