Cost Containment and Quality Improvement Strategies

Promoting value by containing costs and improving quality has been a focus for many states over the past few years.  This issue of State of the States highlights this trend with the article, "Cost Containment and Quality Improvement Prioritized by States."  It also outlines efforts by several states to promote the sale of private plans that emphasize preventive benefits and primary care. 

AcademyHealth and The Commonwealth Fund are working together to provide technical assistance to states that are working to improve value in the health care system.  This article describes that program, called the State Quality Improvement Institute (SQII).  A final article describes a specific quality improvement program that was implemented in Minnesota, one of the SQII states.