Quality studies proposed for children's healthcare

To date, virtually all of the major studies of healthcare quality have focused on care for adults, partly because children aren't prone to chronic diseases like diabetes whose outcomes can be measured easily. The gap in quality measures is particularly large when it comes to inpatient care, according to a study by the National Association of Children's Hospitals. However, a new bill being considered in the Senate would change the equation, budgeting $100 million over the next five years to develop quality measures for children's healthcare. Under the proposed law, whose sponsors including Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), CMS would be able to launch pilot programs designed to improve children's hospital care. Such initiatives would not only stand to improve pediatric care, but would also improve payers' ability to include pediatric care in pay-for-performance schemes.

To find out more about the bill:
- read this United Press International article

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