Future accreditation requirements are to include performance measurements in its report card. The effectiveness of care domain includes preventive services such as childhood and adolescent immunization status, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, counseling against smoking, eye exam for patients with Diabetes Mellitus, and flu shots for the elderly. The measures reflect intermediate outcomes at the plan level. Accreditation requires a health plan to pass a survey that addresses standards for important care and services it delivers. Standards for Preventive Health services are a key category for this process.
Plans also have to demonstrate programs in place that improve the care and services delivered.
Some Managed Care Organizations have been innovative with prevention programs and successful in improving preventive services rates. These programs can be aligned with local public health initiatives and provide benefits to the community beyond the plan's membership. The Right Balance As noted previously, a balance incorporating the interest of patients, physicians, and health plans has the best chance of meeting the goal of improving health care services. Ideally, challenges for the future must be addressed by all three groups. Managed Care Organizations should provide health plans with comprehensive services and share information with patients and health care professionals about the performance of the plan.