Here's a resource list for data on the quality of health plans:

Overviews of Health Plan Quality

Employer Quality Partnership (EQP)
202 872-1260
www.eqp.org
This business consortium, launched by the Business Roundtable, publishes four pamphlets on health-care quality geared toward small employers and their employees.

Foundation for Accountability (FACCT)
www.facct.org/educate/articles.html
This think tank in Portland, Ore., creates quality-measurement and consumer-reporting tools. Check out its articles online for information on evaluating health plan quality.

President's Advisory Commission On Consumer Protection and Quality In the Health Care Industry
800 358-9295
www.hcqualitycommission.gov
This federal commission issued the 1998 report "Quality First: Better Health Care for All Americans." Most of it is rather technical, but it does describe useful concepts for evaluating health-care quality. Its appendix contains a "Consumer Bill of Rights" that details the information health plans are required to divulge to consumers.

Accreditation Organizations

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
202 955-3500
www.ncqa.org
The leader in the field, NCQA rates more than half of the nation's managed-care plans on over 50 clinical and consumer satisfaction measures in HEDIS (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) reports. Summary data is available on the Web. But for complete information, you'll need to get its report, Quality Compass, a CD-ROM that costs $2,500. (Your insurance broker probably has it.) It also accredits plans based on their adherence to specific national standards.

American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC
202 216-9010
www.urac.org
URAC accredits managed-care plans, particularly preferred provider organizations. Ask for its accreditation list.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO)
630 916-5600
www.jcaho.org
The Web site allows consumers to perform a "Quality Check" on nearly 18,000 hospitals, nursing homes, and other health-care organizations by calling up summaries of their accreditation history.  In addition, it provides useful guidelines for choosing ambulatory-care services.

State Health Departments

Check with these states for their managed-care report cards.

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Report: Florida Health Plan Check-Up
888 419-3456
www.fdhc.state.fl.us
This state report is the only one that doesn't use NCQA quality data. It is based solely on consumer satisfaction measures.

State of Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission (HCACC)
410 764-3460
www.hcacc.state.md.us
Reports: "Comparing the Quality of Maryland HMOs: A Guide for Consumers" and "HMOs in Maryland: A Comprehensive Performance Report"

Missouri Department of Health
573-751-6279
www.health.state.mo.us
Report: "Show Me" Buyer's Guide: Managed Care Plans (due out 5/1/99)

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
888 393-1062
www.state.nj.us/health
Report: "1998 New Jersey Managed Care Plans: Compare Your Choices"

State of New Mexico Health Policy Commission
505 424-3200
hpc.state.nm.us
Report: "Consumer Guide: Choosing a Quality Managed Care Plan," December 1998

New York State Health Accountability Foundation
516 326-7767, ext. 221
www.nyshaf.org
Report: "New York State HMO Report Card" (due out 5/1/99)
This quasi-public agency's upcoming report uses data from the New York State Department of Health but presents it in a more user-friendly form. The report card will rate all 30 New York State commercial managed-care plans.

Texas Health Care Information Council
800 231-0314
www.thcic.state.tx.us
Report: "1998 HMO Quality Check-Up Reports"

Utah Department of Health
801 538-6386
www.healthdata.state.ut.us
Report: "Commercial HMO Satisfaction Guide"

Health-Care Coalitions

These groups usually do some joint purchasing of health care for its member businesses or provide data and guidelines.

The Alliance (Colorado)
Coalition of small employers
303 316-3141
Report: "The Worksheet for Choosing Your HMO"

Pacific Business Group on Health (California)
888 244-2124 (California only)
www.healthscope.org
Report: "1998 Health Plan Report Cards"
Its Web site gives a valuable overview on quality measures and features an HMO quality worksheet. In addition, it offers report cards designed to help you choose hospitals and physician groups.

Greater Detroit Area Health Council
313 963-4990
www.hiag.org
Report: "1998-1999 Consumer Guide to Health Maintenance Organizations"
This public-interest group, formed to promote health care in the community, publishes brief report cards on 13 HMOs in Michigan.