Wisconsin firms pledge to support healthcare IT standards

Milwaukee, Wis. - During a meeting with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, a group of Wisconsin employers and healthcare organizations pledged to support health information technology by encouraging the use of interoperability standards in the health information technology products used by their health plans.

The pledge came as part of an effort to support a national initiative aimed at improving healthcare quality, information reporting, and cost-effectiveness.

Among the 48 Wisconsin employers who pledged support are several Milwaukee area health plans and facilities, plus major companies like Brady Corp., GE Healthcare, Manpower, and Rockwell Automation.

Executives at the firms pledged to provide quality and price information about doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers for all enrollees in their healthcare insurance programs. The information will help employees choose healthcare providers based on the quality of care they deliver and the prices they charge.

Leavitt, who is promoting these “cornerstones” of value-driven healthcare, applauded the commitment of area executives. An estimated 2.3 million people will benefit from the implementation of this initiative in Wisconsin. "Our individual actions will be aligned toward reaching the common national goal of better health at lower costs for all Americans,” Leavitt said in a prepared statement. "Until now, it has been impossible for patients to learn in advance about the quality of care they can expect to receive from a provider, or the cost of the services they will incur.“

The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality has been selected as a pilot site to test new methods of reporting on healthcare quality.

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