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The Quality of Health Care

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Colorado Health Care: A Study of Voter Concerns and the Support for State Reform / Research Report
April 2008— A majority of Colorado voters believe that all state residents should have access to affordable, quality health care and would support a sales tax increase on cigarettes and alcohol if the money were used to help ensure such access, according to this December 2007-January 2008 survey. (26 pages)

Opinions of Pennsylvanians Age 50+ on Health Care Reform / Research Report
March 2008— The opinions of Pennsylvania’s 50+ population on health care reform were assessed in this AARP survey, as well as their experiences and concerns relative to health care access and costs. A majority of the respondents are ready for change, supporting several reform proposals. (20 pages)

New Jersey Health Care Reports / Research Report
March 2008— The opinions of self-identified voters age 18+ in New Jersey on issues related to health care reform, quality of health care, and health care access and costs are explored in these two reports. Information is based on an AARP survey of 805 New Jersey residents conducted in December 2007-January 2008.

Improving Health Care in Iowa: A Survey of Self-Identified Registered Voters Age 18+ / Research Report
March 2008— This telephone survey of 800 Iowa residents age 18+, who self-identified as registered voters, explores Iowans’ perception about their health, how they prioritize health care, and specific ways to improve and expand access to health care coverage. (20 pages)

Minnesota Health Care: A Study of Current Challenges and the Support for State Reform / Research Report
March 2008— Although AARP members in Minnesota are more likely to be insured than those ages 50-64 in the general population, a recent survey shows that member concern around this issue is great and that they expect it to be addressed by the Governor and State Legislature. (19 pages)

2007 Virginia Member Survey / Research Report
January 2008— The views of Virginia AARP members on health care quality, long-term care, caregiving, payday lending, and transportation are explored in this series of six reports, which are based on a July-August mail survey of 790 members in the state aged 50 and older.

The Results Are In.....2007 AARP Poll of Guam Residents Age 50+ / Research Report
September 2007— This first-ever 2007 AARP telephone survey of 554 age 50+ residents of Guam identifies recent life events of significance and concern to them and explores their opinions regarding such specific issues as Social Security, health care quality and services on the island, Medicare and consumer fraud. (22 pages)

Perceptions of Health Care Reform among 18+ Louisiana Residents: Challenges and Opportunities / Research Report
September 2007— As Louisiana recovers from Hurricane Katrina, this Spring 2007 AARP telephone survey of 800 age 18+ residents explores what they think the state needs to do to improve its system for providing health care to low-income individuals.

2007-2008 AARP Key Legislative Priorities: A Survey of Likely Voters in North Carolina / Research Report
July 2007— Likely Tar Heel State voters’ thoughts about six issues important to AARP, which are being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly during its 2007-08 session, are examined in this March 2007 telephone survey of 626 voters with a history of having voted in general elections in the last three years. (12 pages)

Strategies to Improve Health Care Quality in Virginia: Survey of Residents Age 50+ / Research Report
May 2007— How to assure that doctors and other health care professionals maintain their skills and proficiency through periodic testing is explored in this November 2006 telephone survey of 800 age 50+ Virginians. Approaches to preventing medical errors by physicians and nurses, hospitals and pharmacies, and related practitioners are also examined. (37 pages)

Disease Management in Fee-for-Service Medicaid Programs / Research Report
March 2007— States are exploring Disease Management (DM) as a possible way to improve the quality of care and cut Medicaid costs. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Lynda Flowers focuses on DM program design options and the challenges associated with the development, implementation and evaluation of DM programs in fee-for-service Medicaid. (13 pages) (Publication ID: IB81)

No-Fault Medical Malpractice Compensation: Policy Considerations for Design of a Demonstration Project / Research Report
March 2007— A "no-fault" administrative compensation system for medical injuries promises a simpler, less contentious means of adjudicating claims that would facilitate self-critical discussion of the causes of medical errors. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Jackson Williams identifies dilemmas involved in a switch from tort lawsuits to administrative "health courts." (32 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-06)

Access to Physicians Survey / Research Report
February 2007— How the medical care experiences, reactions and satisfaction levels of those between ages 50 and 64 who have private health insurance compare with the experiences of those age 65+ covered by Medicare is examined in this February 2006 AARP telephone survey of 2,010 age 50+ Americans. (23 pages)

In Brief: Quality Assurance for Long-Term Care: The Experiences of England, Australia, Germany and Japan / Research Report
February 2007— A succinct summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper of the same name in which a team of researchers headed by Joshua M. Wiener of RTI International examines the long-term care quality assurance systems in four developed countries—England, Australia, Germany and Japan. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB136)

Quality Assurance for Long-Term Care: The Experiences of England, Australia, Germany and Japan / Research Report
February 2007— Systems for public financing of long-term care (LTC) and for regulating and monitoring the quality of LTC services in four developed countries--England, Australia, Germany and Japan--are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by a team of researchers headed by Joshua M. Wiener of RTI International. (89 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-05)

Follow the Money: Payment Reform as the Key to Health Reform / Research Report
October 2006— Considering the role of money in medicine in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, David M. Cutler of Harvard University argues that the quality and efficiency of health care can be improved through the use of incentives that orient reimbursement toward health improvement, rather than just paying for services provided. (28 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-24)

In Brief: State and Local Strategies for Ensuring Backup Personal Care Services / Research Report
October 2006— A succinct summary of the similarly title AARP Public Policy Institute report examining state and local initiatives to ensure that effective mechanisms and safeguards are in place to identify and respond to service delivery failures that require backup coverage for Medicaid personal care services. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB130)

Bridging the Gaps: State and Local Strategies for Ensuring Backup Personal Care Services / Research Report
October 2006— People with disabilities can find themselves at risk when authorized personal care services (PCS) are not delivered. This AARP Public Policy Institute report by Dorie Seavey and Vera Salter of the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute examines state and local initiatives for identifying and responding effectively to service delivery failures requiring backup coverage for Medicaid PCS. (35 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-19)

In Brief: Paying for Quality Care: State and Local Strategies for Improving Wages and Benefits for Personal Care Assistants / Research Report
October 2006— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute report examining state and local initiatives to improve wages and benefits for direct-care workers delivering Medicaid personal care services. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB129)

Paying for Quality Care: State and Local Strategies for Improving Wages and Benefits for Personal Care Assistants / Research Report
October 2006— Wages and benefits paid to personal care workers, studies show, play a fundamental role in determining the availability and quality of these workers. This AARP Public Policy Institute report by Dorie Seavey and Vera Salter of the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute examines state and local initiatives to improve wages and benefits for qualified direct-care workers. (44 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-18)

Implementing Continuing Competency Requirements for Health Care Practitioners / Research Report
July 2006— The implications of mandating state health professional licensing boards to implement procedures that would require all licensees to demonstrate their continuing competence as a condition of relicensure are explored in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by David Swankin and Rebecca Arnold LeBuhn of the Citizen Advocacy Center, and consultant Richard Morrison. (52 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-16)

Personal Health Records: an Overview of What Is Available To the Public / Research Report
May 2006— This report reviews 24 personal health record products that were offered by American-based companies between April and November 2005. (18 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-11)

Learning from Abroad: Lessons and Questions on Personal Health Records for National Policy / Research Report
March 2006— The status of personal health record adoption in Australia, Canada, England and New Zealand is described in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Don Detmer, M.D., and Elaine Steen. While concluding that differences between the U.S. health care system and those in the nations studied preclude wholesale borrowing of ideas and approaches, they identify areas of common focus and shared purpose. (81 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-10)

Home Care Quality: Emerging State Strategies to Deliver Person-Centered Services / Research Report
March 2006— The efforts of three states – South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin – to improve home care quality by using a more person-centered approach are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Donna Folkemer of the National Conference of State Legislatures and Barbara Coleman. (32 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-07)

In-Brief: Home Care Quality: Emerging State Strategies to Deliver Person-Centered Services / Research Report
March 2006— A succinct summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which the efforts of three states – South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin – to improve home care quality by using a more person-centered approach are described by Donna Folkemer of the National Conference of State Legislatures and Barbara Coleman. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB119)

State Profiles: Reforming the Health Care System 2005, 13th Ed. / Research Report
February 2006— The latest available data on close to 100 health-related indicators for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are provided by this 13th edition of the AARP Public Policy Institute data book by Lynda Flowers, Leigh Gross, Patricia Kuo and Shelly-Ann Sinclair. (298 pages) (Publication ID: D18258)

In Brief: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule and Patient Access to Medical Records / Research Report
February 2006— This In Brief, based on the PPI Issue Paper of the same title, describes the provisions of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which grants patients access to their medical records (paper and electronic). (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB114)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule and Patient Access to Medical Records / Research Report
February 2006— This PPI Issue Paper, written by Beth Tossell, Emily Stewart, and Janlori Goldman of the Health Privacy Project, describes the provisions of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which grants patients access to their medical records (paper and electronic). (36 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-03)

Medical Malpractice: An Overview of Federal and State Policy Options / Research Report
July 2005— A broad overview of federal and state policy proposals and enactments addressing medical malpractice over the past 3 decades is provided in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Jackson Williams. (14 pages) (Publication ID: IB75)

Beyond 50.02: A Report to the Nation on Trends in Health Security / Research Report
May 2002— AARP’s comprehensive and revealing portrait of health security among age 50+ Americans covers health and well-being, health coverage, affordability of care, quality of care, and informed decision-making among the nation’s midlife and older population. (Publication ID: D17682)

Reforming The Health Care System: State Profiles 2001 (Excerpts) / Research Report
December 2001— Key facts and findings from the AARP Public Policy Institute data book by Susan Raetzman, Lauren Craig, and Cathy McDougall in which nearly 100 commonly used indicators assess the nation's health care system, with profiles, data and rankings for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories. (Publication ID: D17589)

An Overview of Managed Care Liability: Implications for Patient Rights and Federal and State Reform / Research Report
March 2001— The legal principles governing managed care organizations' liability for injuries resulting from treatment decisions are explained in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by law professor Sara Rosenbaum of the George Washington University Medical Center. (23 pages) (Publication ID: 2001-06)

Reforming the Health Care System: State Profiles 2000 (Highlights) / Research Report
December 2000— Key facts and findings from the AARP Public Policy Institute data book by Normandy Brangan, Kelly Griffin and Cathy McDougall in which over 95 commonly used indicators assess the nation's health care system, with profiles, data and rankings for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories. (4 pages) (Publication ID: 15719-HL)

Assuring the Quality of Home Care: The Challenge of Involving the Consumer / Research Report
April 2000— What can state governments do to educate and involve consumers in quality-of-care issues? In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief, Barbara Coleman reviews efforts by regulators, researchers and consumers to assure quality care, and suggests future actions. (18 pages) (Publication ID: IB43)

Reforming the Health Care System: State Profiles 1999 -- State Details / Research Report
December 1999— Key findings from the AARP Public Policy Institute's ninth annual review of U.S. health and health care. State-by-state comparisons of nearly 100 key measures, including health status, use of services, insurance coverage, managed care, financing and expenditures, resources, and government policies. (Publication ID: D17094)

A Case-Study Investigation of Charity Care and Essential Service Provision Following Hospital Conversion to For-Profit Status / Research Report
July 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Deborah J. Chollet and Adele M. Kirk of Alpha Center examines the circumstances and corporate histories of several hospitals throughout the United States that converted to for-profit ownership between 1983 and 1994. The study was designed to learn about hospital decisions and community relationships concerning the delivery of care and essential services after conversion to for-profit ownership. This study demonstrates how for-profit ownership can change the mission and management of affected not-for-profit institutions. Few hospitals were major providers of uncompensated care either before or after conversion. Study findings suggest that the push for hospital service modifications (either expansion or discontinuation) comes from management changes that can follow hospital conversions. Finally, the study highlights the effect of frequent changes in hospital ownership and management on surrounding communities, as well as consumers’ sensitivity to hospital changes after conversion. (37 pages) (Publication ID: 9907)

Medical Error and Patient Injury: Costly and Often Preventable / Research Report
September 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Drew Smith surveys the literature on the nature and extent of preventable medical error and injury and the costs associated with it, and describes two very different perspectives on why medical mistakes and preventable injuries occur and how the problem should be addressed. (9 pages) (Publication ID: IB35)

Mental Health Parity: An Overview of Recent Legislation / Fact Sheet
September 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Sharon Bee and Mary Jo Gibson provides an overview of key issues in the parity debate about the effort to improve the coverage of mental health care by equalizing insurance benefits for mental health and physical health care. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FS69)