Sample of Findings in HMO
Report
NY Times 9/23/98
By The Associated Press
--The best plans -- those in the top 10 percent -- gave 93.1 percent of people with heart disease beta blockers, drugs that can reduce the chances of a heart attack. The worst -- those in the bottom 10 percent -- gave the drugs to just over half of these patients.
--The best plans gave 82.7 percent of adult women pap smears to screen for cervical cancer; the worst gave the tests to just 59.8 percent.
--Nearly three in four smokers were advised to quit in the best plans; in the worst, it was just 55.1 percent.
--The best plans gave eye exams to 56.9 percent of diabetics, who are at risk of blindness. The worst gave the exams to only 20.4 percent.
--Just 38.6 percent of people who were hospitalized for mental illnesses were seen within a month in the lowest-performing plans. The best plans saw 86.5 percent of people for a quick follow-up visit.
--More than 95 percent of pregnant women had prenatal care during the first trimester in the best plans; in the worst, it was 63.7 percent.
A member satisfaction survey, which is part of the annual report, found that nationally, on average:
--About eight in 10 consumers said they did not have trouble seeing a specialist or experience a delay in care waiting for approvals.
--Only 38 percent rated their plan's availability of information about services as good or excellent.
--Just 42 percent said the number of doctors they had to choose from was good or excellent.
