April 2025
Presidents Column: WCHQ's Commitment to Improving Healthcare Value
Quality Improvement as a Pathway to Cost Control
At WCHQ, our dedication to healthcare quality improvement goes hand in hand with our commitment to enhancing value in the healthcare system. Our mission has always encompassed value, recognizing that quality and cost are intricately linked.
WCHQ stands at the forefront of the healthcare value movement. We bring together health care providers to concentrate on improvement initiatives that not only enhance care but also control costs. Our approach is based on the principle that quality improvement is synonymous with cost control. By focusing on upstream activities, we prevent downstream complications that can lead to negative patient outcomes and increased costs
Our recently published Value Report highlights the significant impact of quality activities undertaken by our member health systems which have led to real and meaningful improvements in patient care and cost savings.
We understand that quality improvement and cost control are not separate endeavors but are inherently connected. By focusing on upstream activities, our member health systems can prevent complications, reduce costs, and deliver better outcomes for patients. As we continue to champion healthcare value, we invite others to join us in this critical work, ensuring a sustainable and efficient healthcare system for all.
Investing in Quality, Improving Outcomes, Providing Value
WCHQ members are ahead of the nation in diabetes care with significantly lower costs and better outcomes. Nationally, 30.7% of commercial HMO patients with diabetes have uncontrolled A1c compared to only 10.5% of patients cared for by WCHQ members, representing an avoidance of over $72 million in healthcare costs each year.
In a series of reports published on our website using our data, we examined the relationship between investments in preventive care and the impacts on long-term costs and complications for patients with diabetes.
Figure 1
High levels of blood sugar control for patients with diabetes is correlated with lower rates of diabetic complications in the future. By lowering the rates of complications, WCHQ members are avoiding millions of dollars in healthcare costs.
Figure 1 shows the correlation between baseline A1c Control and future costs associated with diabetes complications. As A1c control rates increase, cost rates decrease.
In our latest health care value report we provide an in-depth examination of the relationship between clinical quality improvement and cost savings, specifically focusing on microvascular complications in diabetic patients.
We followed diabetic patients diagnosed in 2019 over a span of five years to assess the trajectory of chronic disease and the impact of early intervention in managing A1c levels.
Our findings show (see Figure 2 & 3):
- Maintaining optimal A1c control is crucial for managing diabetes and minimizing complications.
o Even brief periods of uncontrolled A1c increase complication risks
o Frequent A1c testing is vital in ensuring better health outcomes and lower healthcare expenses
A1c Control and Number of Microvascular Complications
Figure 2
- Early screening and proactive management in primary care are essential for preventing complications.
o Microvascular complications are being diagnosed concurrent with diabetes diagnosis
Complication Onset within First Year of Diabetes Diagnosis
Figure 3
WCHQ member health systems have shown remarkable performance in diabetes care compared to national averages. The focus on integrated care and the use of evidence-based practices has set a benchmark for diabetes management, demonstrating that proactive and coordinated care can significantly improve patient outcomes.
For more in-depth analysis and identified strategies to improve healthcare value for patients with diabetes, review both reports on our website at:
Microvascular Complications of Diabetes
Macrovascular Complications of Diabetes
For more information or to get involved with our value work, contact Abbey Harburn at aharburn@wchq.org.
