Quality Improvement in Medicaid Health Plans

The Commonwealth Fund released its review of Denver Health, a managed care Medicaid health insurance plan in Denver, Col. The focus is on the aspects of quality improvement initiated by the plan to improve:

• no-show rates,
  
• patient- and family-centered care,
  
• culturally sensitive care, and
  
• costs of treatment.

Although the focus is on medical practices, information on how Denver Health has implemented the "Toyota model" of lean manufacturing for quality, efficiency, and cost improvement may benefit Tennessee provdiers, plans, and consumers.