Virginia Health Information has released "Compare HMOs," which details overall quality and satisfaction for HMOs which serve more than 1 million people in the commonwealth.
The report, released last week by the independent non-profit and available online and free to consumers, is intended to help healthcare consumers in Virginia make informed decisions about which health plans they select as many enter the open enrollment period. It includes links to HMO Web sites, where members can get rate quotes and plan descriptions.
The report draws on five years of information and includes measurements of member satisfaction, access to care, effectiveness of care and administrative data such as medical cost ratios. Consumers can access data showing which individual plans provide appropriate care for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, asthma and mental health.
The report also includes consumer satisfaction scores for plans, detailing whether members got the care they needed and how quickly they were able to get access to care.
According to the report, 85 percent of HMO members said they received care quickly, 82 percent received the care they needed and 79 percent gave their doctor or nurse high ranks.
"The good news is that Virginia's HMOs fare better than the national averages on 29 out of 57 measures," said Michael Lundberg, executive director of VHI. "However, the report also highlights areas for improvement, such as breast and cervical cancer screening rates, which have declined since 2005."
The report also shows that, on average, HMO medical cost ratios increased slightly over 2008, meaning more of premiums were spent on medical care.