MINNEAPOLIS, February 4, 2008—The Commonwealth Fund has released a report recognizing state achievements in the area of improving health care quality. In the report, Minnesota is cited as a leader.

"What Public Employee Health Plans Can Do to Improve Health Care Quality: Examples from the States" is a tool for state public employee health plans and other large purchasers to use to make better strategic decisions in developing or coordinating quality improvement initiatives.

In the report, analysts describe programs around the country aimed at promoting provider adherence to clinical guidelines and best practices, publicly disseminating provider performance information, and implementing performance-based incentives, among other goals.

The Minnesota State Employee Group Insurance Program provides consumers and providers with a web-based resource to compare quality-related performance across health care clinics serving three-quarters of the state's population, the report says. Patient experiences are compared in 10 treatment areas, from immunizations to care for chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Download the Commonwealth Fund report