State Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council To Discuss Health Care Reporting Transparency on June 21, 2012

Jun 10, 2012

On June 21, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting/workshop of the State Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council to which all interested parties are invited. The purpose is to conduct a meeting of key health care stakeholders to discuss issues relating to implementing Florida Statutes mandating transparency in health care through public reporting of health care data.
 
Any person interested in participating by telephone may dial: 1(888)670-3525, Participant Code: 3875036751#.
 
The meeting will be in Conference Room “A” at AHCA headquarters on 2727 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, Florida (map)
 
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Elizabeth Jenkins, Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis at Elizabeth.Jenkins@ahca. myflorida.com or (850)412-3735.
 
If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).   If you have any difficulty accessing the teleconference, please call the Florida Center’s main number at (850)412-3730.
 
The agenda will also be posted at the Agency website: http://ahca.myflorida.com/SCHS/chismeetings.shtml  seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
 
For more information, you may contact: Elizabeth Jenkins, Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis, Elizabeth.Jenkins@ahca.myflorida.com or (850)412-3735.
 
Materials from the Council’s March 29, 2012 meeting are posted below:

Agenda [107kb doc]
Minutes – Draft [206kb pdf]

Meeting Materials:

 

Member List


About the Council: 

Revised April, 2012

The State Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council (Advisory Council) was established to make recommendations to the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis (Florida Center) to accomplish the requirements of S. 408.05, Florida Statutes. This statute directs the Agency to make available transparency in health care quality measures and financial data including data on pharmaceuticals, physicians, health care facilities, health plans, and managed care entities. This statute also directs the Agency to make available patient safety indicators, inpatient quality indicators, and performance outcome and patient charge data collected from health care facilities and to determine which conditions, procedures, health care quality measures, and patient charge data to disclose with input from the Advisory Council. The statute sets specific requirements for the publication of infection rates, mortality rates, and complication rates.

Transparency refers to the clear communication of essential information that consumers need to make choices about their health care. The Agency determines the method and format for public disclosure of data with input from the Advisory Council. The statute specifies that, at a minimum, the data shall be made available on the Agency’s Website, www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov, in a manner that provides consumers the opportunity to conduct an interactive search that allows them to view and compare the information for specific providers. By law, the Website must include such additional information as is determined necessary to ensure the improvement of decision making among consumers and health care purchasers. The Website must also include appropriate guidance on how to use the data and an explanation of why the data may vary from provider to provider.
The statute further requires that the Agency make available performance measures, benefit design, and premium cost data from health plans licensed pursuant to Chapter 627 or Chapter 641, Florida Law. The Agency determines which health care quality measures and member and subscriber cost data to disclose, with input from the Advisory Council. The Council also assists the Florida Center to produce comparable and uniform health information and statistics for the development of policy recommendations.

Through its technical workgroup, the Data Standards and Transparency Committee, the Advisory Council has assisted the Agency in the development and refinement of goals that address opportunities for expanding available consumer information related to hospitals, other providers, physicians, hospices and health plans. These goals enhance the Agency’s effectiveness in providing transparent health care price and quality information to the general public.

The Advisory Council also works with the Florida Center in the development and implementation of a long-range plan for making available health care quality measures and financial data that will allow consumers to compare health care services. The health care quality measures and financial data includes, but is not limited to, pharmaceuticals, physicians, health care facilities, and health plans and managed care entities.

In addition, with the assistance of the Health Information Exchange Coordinating Committee (HIECC) ad hoc workgroup, the Advisory Council advises the Florida Center in the development and implementation of strategies for the adoption and use of electronic health records, including the development of an electronic health information network for the sharing of electronic health records among health care facilities, health care providers, and health insurers. The establishment of strategic goals for the promotion of health information technology, which is a related responsibility of the Florida Center, is accomplished through the Legal Work Group and the HIECC as well.

Roles and Affiliations

The mission of the State Consumer Health Information and Policy Advisory Council is to assist the Florida Center in reviewing the comprehensive health information system, including the identification, collection, standardization, sharing, and coordination of health-related data, fraud and abuse data, and professional and facility licensing data among federal, state, local, and private entities and to recommend improvements for purposes of public health, policy analysis, and transparency of consumer health care information.

By advising the Florida Center with regards to data sets, the types of data which should be collected, and their uses, the Advisory Council further assists in the development and implementation of a long range plan for making health care quality measures and financial data available that will allow consumers to compare health care services.

The Council’s duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

a) To perform ongoing assessment of quality and performance measures to ensure utilization of the best methods for publicly reporting health care information and meeting the statutory requirements of Florida¡¦s transparency law.
b) To accelerate outreach and public information efforts to dramatically increase the awareness of Florida’s health care consumer websites.
c) To create ad hoc issue-oriented technical workgroups on an as-needed basis to make recommendations to the Advisory Council;
d) To develop and recommend on-going improvements and enhancements to AHCA’s transparency website, www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov.
e) Advise the Florida Center in the development and implementation of strategies for the adoption and use of electronic health records, including the development of an electronic health information network for the sharing of electronic health records among health care facilities, health care providers, and health insurers.
Per statute, the council shall consist of the following members:
1. An employee of the Executive Office of the Governor, to be appointed by the Governor.
2. An employee of the Office of Insurance Regulation, to be appointed by the director of the office.
3. An employee of the Department of Education, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Education.
4. Ten [or more] persons, to be appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration, representing other state and local agencies, state universities, business and health coalitions, local health councils, professional health-care-related associations, consumers, and purchasers.

A complete listing of the Advisory Council and ad hoc work groups’ current composition and membership can be located on the Agency’s Website at http//.ahca.myflorida.com/schs/chis.shtml.

Administrative Policies and Procedures

The Advisory Council shall, with the assistance of the Florida Center, adhere to the following policies and procedures:

1. Meet at least quarterly, but may also meet at the call of its Chair, at the request of the Agency, or at the request of a majority of its membership.
2. Each member of the Advisory Council will be appointed to serve for a term of two years following the date of appointment. A vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term, and each appointing authority retains the right to reappoint members whose terms of appointment have expired.
a. If a representative changes employment and no longer represents the affiliation for which he or she was first appointed, the member will resign.
b. Members can send a substitute (proxy) to Advisory Council meetings, upon proper notification to the Chair, through Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis staff. Members should notify staff as soon as possible with the name and contact information of the proposed proxy.
c. Members who are unable to attend the meeting in person are encouraged to attend by teleconference using the call-in number provided on the agenda. Those who are calling in are asked to please place your phone on MUTE to block background noises which may make it difficult for others to hear the meeting; it is also requested that you do not place your call on hold when having to step away from the call.  background music, and other noises make it impossible for others on the call to hear the meeting. If necessary, hang up from the call and call back in when you are able.
d. Members who do not attend at least seventy-five percent of the annual meetings starting in the calendar year January 2011 will be considered resigned.
3. Members of the Advisory Council shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair annually.
4. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum is necessary to take action.
a. Members of the Advisory Council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses for Advisory Council meetings, as provided in ¡±112.061, F.S. (Workgroup members are not considered Advisory Council members for travel reimbursements.)
b. For travel to Advisory Council meetings, submit all original receipts to Ms. Elizabeth Jenkins, Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #16, Tallahassee, FL 32308. She may also be reached at (850) 412-3735 or Elizabeth.Jenkins@ahca.myflorida.com.
c. Send an e-mail indicating that you are requesting reimbursement for travel, giving time of departure and return. Ms. Jenkins will fill out the travel reimbursement forms, and send them to you for signature, and process for payment.
5. The Florida Center will maintain minutes of each meeting on behalf of the Advisory Council and will make such minutes available upon request.
6. The Florida Center will appoint members to ad hoc workgroups, as recommended by the Advisory Council.
7. All communications between members regarding Advisory Council business must be in compliance with Florida’s Sunshine laws. Members of the Advisory Council and Workgroups may only discuss business of the group at a properly advertised public meeting. Any communication between two or more members of the Advisory Council or Workgroups concerning the business of the Advisory Council that takes place outside of the public meeting would be a violation of the Sunshine Law. This would include e-mails, phone calls, communication through liaisons, and other types of communication, in addition to face-to-face conversations.

If two members also serve on another board or council with similar duties, the similar issues may be discussed by the second board so long as the two members do not discuss the issues with each other. It is also strongly recommended that the members of the Advisory Council or Workgroups do not use one of the members of the second board or council as a conduit to engage in discussion. An exercise in judgment is encouraged in trying to keep discussions at the second board or council strictly within the context of the duties of that second board or council. Advisory Council and Workgroup members are urged to keep the Advisory Council duties separate from the second board or council duties as much as possible.
A knowing violation of the Sunshine Law is a first degree misdemeanor, and carries a possible maximum punishment of 60 days incarceration and/or a $500 fine.

News Library

RSS Subscribe

Get Our Latest News In Your Email