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Binder was a keynote speaker at the 15th annual Risk Management andPatient Safety Institute (RM&PSI) conference, held Sept. 17-19. The Lansing,Mich.-based Risk Management and Patient Safety Institute (RM&PSI) is anational leader in clinical risk management consulting and patient safetyprograms for health care institutions and providers.
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The focus of this year's RM&PSI annual seminar, Don't Risk FinancialSecurity: Preventing Hospital-acquired Conditions, was intended to help healthcare institutions understand and prepare for the new Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services (CMS) "preventable conditions" reimbursement rules thatbecame effective on Oct. 1, 2008. The event also explored new quality andsafety trends that are actively driving change across the health carecontinuum.
Adverse events in health care are among the leading causes of patientdeath and injury in the United States, and health care institutions are facingincreasing scrutiny around hospital-acquired, preventable conditions. StartingOct. 1, CMS began withholding payment for eight preventable hospital-acquiredconditions, including certain types of infections and medical errors, and anumber of private payers are also following suit. This list of preventableconditions is expected to expand during the next several years.
In her address, Binder confirmed that many private insurers are beginningto use Leapfrog's quality surveys as a pay-for-performance incentive --rewarding hospitals who complete surveys and who demonstrate year-over-yearimprovements. Binder is also starting to see employers getting more involvedin quality and safety by encouraging or incentivizing employees who usehospitals with recognized levels of quality and safety ratings. Shespecifically cited employees of the state of Maine who now get their $250deductable waived if they visit a hospital that meets certain standards,including Leapfrog performance.
"According to our surveys, the number one health care and insuranceconcern employers have today is not cost, although that is extremelyimportant, but that their employees are receiving safe, quality care," saidBinder. "Employers are starting to pay attention to the quality and safetyratings of hospitals and they are not going to pay for health care thatdoesn't measure up. And private insurers are following the demands of theirclients -- the employers -- in refusing to reimburse for medical or patientsafety errors."
"As the link between quality of care and financial reimbursement grows, sowill implications for the health care provider," said Karol Wareck-Russ, groupvice president of the RM&PSI. "Today's hospitals literally can't afford totake a 'wait and see' approach."
About RM&PSI
The Risk Management and Patient Safety Institute (RM&PSI), a subsidiary ofFinCor Holdings Inc., is a leader in helping health care providers andinstitutions with clinical risk reduction, quality patient outcomes, educationand claims management. For more information, visit www.rmpsi.com.
About FinCor Holdings
Through its subsidiaries -- FinCor Solutions, The Risk Management andPatient Safety Institute, MHA Insurance Company, Washington Casualty Companyand Capital Risk Solutions -- FinCor Holdings Inc. provides industry-leadinginsurance products and support services, including medical professionalliability insurance, workers' compensation insurance and risk managementsolutions to clients nationally. With its years of experience focusing onfinancial loss protection and clinical risk reduction, FinCor Holdings hasbuilt an outstanding reputation for serving the needs of the health careindustry. For more information, visit www.fincorholdings.com.
SOURCE FinCor Holdings
