[Federal Register: August 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 51831-51832]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23au10-89]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Request for Measures of Health Plan Efforts To Address Health
Plan Members' Health Literacy Needs
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), DHHS.
ACTION: Notice of request for measures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is
soliciting the submission of instruments or items that measure how well
health plans and health providers address health plan enrollees' health
literacy needs and how well they communicate with health plan
enrollees. This initiative is in response to the need identified by
AHRQ to develop a new supplemental item set (the ``new instrument'')
for addressing health literacy for the CAHPS[supreg] Health Plan
Survey. The intent of the planned survey is to gain patients'
perspective on how well health and health plan information is
communicated to them by healthcare professionals and health plans. The
results of the planned survey may become an important source of
information for health plans, clinicians, group practices, and other
interested parties assessing quality of health information or planning
changes in how health plan information is delivered to health plan
enrollees.
Based on prior work, there are several functional areas that the
new instrument could address. Depending on the communication mode, the
new instrument could assess, for example, clarity and simplicity of
provided health information related to: (a) Preventive services (e.g.,
risks and benefits of the service, explanation of screening results);
(b) health problems/concerns (e.g., information on how to stay healthy
or prevent illness); (c) treatment choices, instructions, or goals
(e.g., pros and cons of each option); (d) medications (e.g., reason for
taking medications, instructions on how to take medications, possible
side effects); and, (e) care management/disease management. A survey
using the new instrument may also assess the quality of services
supporting health information delivery such as language access (e.g.,
availability and timeliness of customer service and interpreter
services in other languages, availability of forms and patient
education materials in other languages), the quality and accessibility
of member services and nurse advice lines, the quality and
accessibility of health plan information on coverage, benefits, and
billing information (including availability in other languages), health
plan system navigation and health plan environment (language access and
assistance in completing medical paperwork or forms, signage).
DATES: Please submit instruments and supporting information on or
before October 22, 2010. AHRQ will not respond individually to
submitters, but will consider all submitted instruments and publicly
report the results of the review of the submissions in aggregate.
ADDRESSES: Submissions should include a brief cover letter, a copy of
the instrument or items for consideration and supporting information as
specified under the Submission Criteria below. Submissions may be in
the form of a letter or e-mail, preferably with an electronic file as
an E-mail attachment. Responses to this request should be submitted to:
Cindy Brach, Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Room 5129,
Rockville, MD 20850, Phone: (301) 427-1444, Fax: (301) 427-1430, E-
mail: Cindy.Brach@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Brach, at the address above.
Submission Criteria
Instruments and items submitted should focus on patients'
perspective on quality of health and health plan information provided
by health plans, clinicians, and/or group practices.
Measures submitted must meet these criteria to be considered: (a)
Assess patients' or their caregivers' experiences receiving health and
health plan information and (b) demonstrate substantial reliability and
validity. Submitters must agree to grant to the Government a
nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free right to use, distribute to the
public, reproduce and create derivative works from the proffered
instruments, items or their arrangement. AHRQ must have the right to
freely use and authorize others to use the new instrument, which will
be distributed under the CAHPS[supreg] trademark. The new instrument
will combine the best features of all the submissions as well as any
ideas that may develop from reviewing them. AHRQ, in collaboration with
CAHPS grantees, will evaluate all submitted instruments or items. As
they construct the CAHPS instrument, they may select one or more
proffered instruments and their items either in whole or in part or
modify the items prior to testing them. AHRQ will own and assume
responsibility for new instrument as well as any future modifications
to it. The new instrument will bear the CAHPS[supreg] trademark and it
will be made freely available for use by all interested parties.
Each submission should include the following information: The name
of the instrument, domains included, language(s) the instrument is
available in, evidence of cultural/cross group comparability, if any,
instrument reliability (internal consistency, test-retest, etc.),
validity (content, construct, criterion-related), response rates,
methods and results of cognitive interviews/testing and field-testing
and description of sampling strategies (including payer type) and data
collection protocols, including such elements as mode of
administration, use of advance letters, timing and frequencies of
contacts. In addition, a list of where the instrument has been fielded
should also be included in the submission. Submission of copies of
existing report formats developed to disclose findings to consumers and
providers is desirable, but not required. Additionally, information
about existing database(s) for the instrument(s) submitted is helpful,
but not required for submission. Evidence of the criteria should be
demonstrated through publication and submission of peer-reviewed
journal article(s) or through the best evidence available at the time
of submission. Please include citations of peer-reviewed journal
articles.
To facilitate handling of submissions, please include full
information about the instrument developer or contact: (a) Name; (b)
title; (c) organization; (d) mailing address; (e) telephone number; (f)
fax number; and (g) e-mail address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The CAHPS program was initiated in 1995 to develop a survey and
report on the consumers' perspective on the quality of their health
plans. Since that time, the CAHPS program in partnership with CMS and
others has expanded its scope and developed surveys and reports
regarding individual clinicians, group practices, in-center
hemodialysis services, nursing
[[Page 51832]]
homes and hospitals. AHRQ determined that the CAHPS teams should
develop a survey to obtain the consumers' perspective on the quality of
health information. The CAHPS program is conducted pursuant to AHRQ's
statutory authority to conduct and support research and disseminate
information on health care and on systems for the delivery of such
care, including activities with respect to: The quality, effectiveness,
efficiency, appropriateness and value of health care services; quality
measurement and improvement; the outcomes, cost, cost-effectiveness,
and use of health care services and access to such services; and health
statistics, surveys, database development, and epidemiology. See 42
U.S.C. 299a(a)(1), (2), (3) and (8).
The vision of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is to
foster health care research that helps the American health care system
provide access to high-quality, cost effective services; be accountable
and responsive to consumers and purchasers; and improve health status
and quality of life. The CAHPS program was developed as a result of the
AHRQ's vision. One of the components missing from the current
measurement set is an assessment of patients' perspective on how well
health plans, hospital, clinicians, and group practices address health
literacy issues.
Dated: August 10, 2010.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-20679 Filed 8-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M