Inside the hospitals
Re “Gov. vetoes hospital disclosure,” Oct. 14
The California Hospital Assn. supports universal transparency for stakeholders in healthcare, including hospitals. But transparency must be based on data that allow for more informed decision-making and that are scientifically based, accurate and timely.
The association supports the balanced approach recommended in 2005 by the California Department of Health Services to reduce morbidity and mortality related to healthcare-associated infections.
In addition to the existing federal and state reporting and transparency programs for hospitals, the California Healthcare Foundation established the California Hospitals Assessment and Reporting Taskforce (CHART) in 2004.
The task force involves more than 220 hospitals representing 80% of the inpatient daily census. Payers, health plans, consumer groups and providers together determine the public reporting of CHART measures using scientific principles. Transparency should be expanded through CHART, rather than an independent commission that has the ability to choose any reporting measure regardless of its value or accuracy.
C. Duane Dauner
President, chief executive
California Hospital Assn.
Sacramento
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