Past Work

QIO Program 10^th SoW (2011-2014)

Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) performed the 10^th Statement of Work (SoW) between 2011 and 2014.

The 10th SoW was structured to: reduce disparities in access and quality for priority populations, increase use of health information technology, reduce adverse events related to health care- acquired infections, increase care efficiency by promoting value within the health system, and improve the quality of life for patients nearing the end of life by alleviating pain and other distressing symptoms. Among many important results:

• QIOs worked alongside national efforts such as CMS’s Partnership for Patients initiative to reduce harm and readmissions in hospitals. By working with QIOs, communities across the country prevented over 95,000 beneficiaries from being admitted to the hospital, and averted over 27,000 readmissions, resulting in improved coordination of care and nearly one billion dollar in savings, although the savings estimated are not solely attributable to QIOs .
• QIOs worked with Intensive Care Units (ICU) and other hospital units to reduce Health care-Associated Infections (HAI) and ensure transparency in reporting, noting a 53 percent relative improvement in reduced Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) among engaged facilities.
• QIOs supported efforts to achieve a 34.4 percent reduction in pressure ulcers for high risk nursing home residents.
• Through their work in over 400 communities across the country, QIOs reported more than 44,600 adverse drug events avoided among Medicare beneficiaries.
• QIOs reviewed more than 200,000 cases for quality of care concerns at the request of beneficiaries, families, and referral agencies.

View the full summary of results in the “Downloads” section below.

QIO Program 9^th SoW (2008-2011)

Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) performed the 9^th Statement of Work (SoW) between 2008 and 2011.

The 9th SoW focused on improving preventive care, improving patient safety, reducing hospital readmissions by improving transitions of care between hospital and post-hospital care, improving disparities in diabetes care and preventive services, improving testing and care for chronic kidney disease, protecting beneficiaries from substandard health care, investigating and resolving beneficiary appeals and complaints, and assisting hospitals in reporting quality measures. The QIO Program work resulted in many improvements to beneficiary care and outcome measures, including implementation of 140 system-wide quality improvement interventions and more than 1,900 quality improvement activities for 98% of confirmed quality of care concerns. The QIO Program saw greater reductions in pressure ulcers and physical restraint use in nursing homes, and helped hospitals make significant progress towards pay for performance.

View the independent evaluation of the 9^th SoW and the FY2011 QIO Program Annual Report to Congress in the “Downloads” section below.

QIO Program 8^th SoW (2005-2008)

Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) performed the 8^th Statement of Work (SoW) between 2005 and 2008.

The 8^th SoW focused on quality improvement for nursing homes, home health agencies, hospitals, and physician practices through organizational “transformations” intended to produce more rapid, measurable improvements in care. The QIOs worked intensively with subsets of individual providers to help them redesign care processes and make internal systemic changes, such as the adoption and implementation of health information and communication technologies. The 8^th SoW contract also included case review and other beneficiary protection activities as well as the Hospital Payment Monitoring Program (HPMP).