Footing the Bill for Quality.

Hospitals and physicians have long complained that payers won't ante up for the costs of higher quality. In response, payers often contend that there is no evidence that higher quality is being provided.

That day may soon be over if a vendor's claims are valid. DoctorQuality a firm that provides health care quality and patient safety services, recently launched a new service--its Quality Contracting system.

The system provides organizations with a method to base reimbursements on the quality of care. It collects and utilizes data from public and administrative data sources, consumers and providers to formulate what the company claims is a comprehensive quality measurement for use by managed care organizations.

More information can be found at the company's Web site www.doctorquality.com.

James A. Hawkins is Publisher of Healthcare Briefings, a newsletter available in print, on cassette, via fax, and on computer disk. He can be reached at 800/414-2062.