The Paramount Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®)* 2007 and Quality Compass^®* results are available. The HEDIS^® data for the 2006 reporting year were submitted for NCQA accreditation and to Quality Compass^®, a national database with clinical performance information from more than 250 health plans that allows purchasers to obtain regional and national comparisons of health plan performance. The HEDIS^® data submitted by Paramount were independently audited to ensure compliance with the stringent methodological standards, with 100 percent of the elements validated.

We Keep Improving

As a result of Paramount's continued emphasis on clinical quality, a number of improvements were realized in 2006. Significant improvements were achieved in the following areas:

• Adolescent immunizations
• Advising smokers to quit
• Appropriate medication for asthma
• Beta-blocker after heart attack
• Childhood immunizations
• Cholesterol control postevent LDL below 100
• Diabetes: eye exams
• Diabetes: Hb A1c testing
• Diabetes: nephropathy monitoring
• Diabetes: LDL control
• Flu shots for adults
• Monitoring use of high-risk drugs
• Testing for children with upper respiratory infection
• Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults

Steps We're Taking

These improvements appear to be a direct result of more specific, targeted interventions, such as:

• A member reminder system for immunizations
• Personalized letters to members with specific testing recommendations
• Educational programs for members with chronic conditions
• Physician and office staff education programs
• Direct contact with members and their physicians by Paramount nurse case managers for those with chronic illnesses or needing critical care
• Interventions from our asthma, depression, congestive heart failure, cardiac postevent, end-stage renal disease/chronic kidney disease, and diabetes disease management programs
• Health coaching calls to our members with asthma, diabetes, cardiac disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and migraines

Quality Compass^® findings also demonstrate that health plans with a track record of public disclosure outperform others and demonstrate steady improvement across almost all measures. For the 2006 reporting year, 14 HEDIS^® measures ranked at or above the 50th percentile nationally for the Commercial population. They include adolescent immunizations, postpartum care, prenatal care, childhood immunizations, diabetes A1c control, diabetes nephropathy screening, diabetes lipid control, diabetes lipid screening, diabetes A1c test, diabetes eye exams, appropriate asthma medication, control of high blood pressure, persistence of beta-blocker treatment, and beta-blocker treatment after a heart attack.

The areas with the lowest level of performance were appropriate treatment of pharyngitis in children, seven-day follow-up after hospitalization for mental illness, and followup visits for antidepressant medication management. Paramount has developed and implemented strategies to help improve these rates.

Get a Copy of Our Quality Report

Clearly, Paramount continues in our commitment to high-quality, cost-effective care and embraces prevention and early detection of disease. The 2007 Quality Report will be available in December. If you would like a copy, please call Member Services at 1-419-887-2525 or 1-800-462-3589. You can also find the report on our Web site. Go to www.paramounthealthcare.com and click on "Member Services," "Quality Improvement," then "Quality Report."