Cato Institute
Policy Analysis
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Care Networks," Center for Studying Health Care
to report cases in which they felt the care met
System Change Tracking Report no. 14, 2006,
appropriate standards, despite the legal require-
http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/838/.
ment to report. U.S. Government Accountability
Office, "National Practitioner Data Bank: Major
88. American Nurse Credentialing Center.
Improvements Are Needed to Enhance Data
Bank's Reliability." GAO-01-130, 2000; Daniel R.
89. Nurse Practitioner Alternatives, Inc., "NP
Levinson, "HHS Agencies' Compliance with the
FAQs," http://www.npedu.com/faq1.htm.
National Practitioner Data Bank Malpractice
Reporting Policy," Office of the Inspector General,
90. Randall G. Holcombe, "Does Licensing of
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Health Care Professionals Improve Health Care?"
OEI-12-04-00310, 2005.
Journal of Medical Licensure and Discipline 93 (2007):
13­19.
79. "An independent, not-for-profit organization,
The Joint Commission accredits and certifies
91. The Cleveland Clinic plays off of its reputation
more than 15,000 health care organizations and
to offer remote second opinions: "MyConsult:
programs in the United States. Joint Commission
Second Medical Opinions from Doctors at the
accreditation and certification is recognized
Cleveland Clinic," http://www.eclevelandclinic.
nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an
org/displayContent.jsp?productId=standard&doc
organization's commitment to meeting certain
ument=document/productOverview.
performance standards." The Joint Commission,
"About the Joint Commission," http://www.joint-
92. Michael Howe, "Clinics a Key Part of Health
commission.org/AboutUs/.
Reform," The Boston Globe, September 10, 2007; Anne
M. Snowden et al., "MN Community Measurement
80. Sage; Joint Commission, "Benefits of Joint
2007 Health Care Quality Report," http://www.mn
Commission Accreditation," http://www.joint
healthcare.org/Resources/2006/FinalReport/2007%
commission.org/HTBAC/benef its_accredita
20Full%20Report.pdf. That report compared
tion.htm.
Minnesota providers' adherence to evidence-based
medical guidelines. Minute Clinic performed above
81. For a discussion of competency validation, see
average for appropriate treatment for children with
Jane Alberico and Adrianne E. Avillion, Competency
upper respiratory infection (86 percent compliance)
Management for the Medical-Surgical Unit (Marble-
and received the highest performance rating for
head, MA: HC Pro, 2005) and other books pub-
appropriate testing for children with sore throat (99
lished by HC Pro.
percent compliance).
82. National Committee for Quality Assurance,
93. WalMartStores.com, "`The Clinic at Wal-Mart'
"CR Standards and Guidelines: Credentialing and
to Open at Atlanta, Little Rock, and Dallas Super
Recredentialing," http://web.ncqa.org/tabid/407
centers," http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/
/Default.aspx.
NewsRoom/7922.aspx.
83. National Committee for Quality Assurance,
94. Mathew L. Lifflander, "Spitzer Has a Chance
"CVO Certification Options," http://web.ncqa.
to Cut Medical Errors, Save Lives." Times Union,
org/tabid/418/Default.aspx.
December 17, 2006; Lifflander is a lawyer and
served as director of the state Assembly's Medical
84. Federation of State Medical Boards, "FCVS
Practice Task Force from 1977 to 1979.
Benefits," http://www.fsmb.org/fcvs_benefits.html.
95. Leape and Fromson.
85. American Board of Medical Specialties,
"American Board of Medical Specialties Board
96. Personal correspondence, July 29, 2006. Copy
Certification Editorial Background," http://www.
in author's files. Dr. Amerongen is the author of
abms.org/news_and_events/media_newsroom/p
"Physician Credentialing in a Consumer-Centric
df/abms_editorialbackground.pdf.
World," Health Affairs 21, no. 5 (2002): 152­56.
86. Christine K. Cassel and Eric S. Holmboe,
97. Shirley Svorny, "Medical Licensing: Examining
"Credentialing and Public Accountability: A
the Desirability of Existing Public Policy in the
Central Role for Board Certification," Journal of the
Context of Technological Change," in The Half-Life
American Medical Association 295 (2006): 939­40.
of Policy Rationales: How New Technology Affects Old
Policy Issues, ed. Fred. E. Foldvary and Daniel B.
87. Ann S. O'Malley, and Ann S. and James D.
Klein (New York: New York University Press, 2003).
Reschovsky, "No Exodus: Physicians and Managed
17