California’s Department of Insurance launched its first PPO rating report card on it’s Web site (www.insurance.ca.gov) that allows consumers to make more informed choices about which Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is best for them.
The 2009 PPO Rating Report Card is based on a four-star rating system that illustrates how well each insurer does on dozens of specific best practices. Rating criteria included asthma care, checking for cancer, diabetes care and treatment of children. The ratings are based on a set of standard measures developed by the National Committee on Quality Assurance. In addition to grades based on the clinical best practices, the report also includes results of a voluntary survey completed by plan members related to consumer satisfaction.
California’s Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has provided a report card on Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) since 2002. While other states collect similar data, California is the only state to analyze it, and offer it in a consumer-friendly, interactive format that includes summary ratings as well as the more detailed underlying measurements.