The Leapfrog Group: New Software System May Aid in the Goal of Efficiency for Health Care

In an age of constant rising health care costs, a growing number of uninsured citizens, and frequent medical errors, the need to address and change the health care system is constantly debated and challenged on a regular basis. In an effort to help improve health care and make it more accessible to Americans everywhere, the Leapfrog Group was created.

The Leapfrog Group is a voluntary program composed of hospitals, vendors, employers and health plans working towards a common goal in providing safe, affordable and quality health care to Americans. It is a member supported program aimed at mobilizing employer purchasing power to alert America's health industry that big leaps in health care safety, quality and customer value will be recognized and rewarded (http://www.leapfroggroup.org/media/file/LF_Fact Sheet_01_26_06.pdf).

The goal of Leapfrog includes the following:

• Reduce preventable medical mistakes and improve the quality and affordability of health care.
• Encourage public reporting of health care quality and outcomes so that consumers and purchasing organizations can make more informed health care choices.
• Reward doctors and hospitals for improving the quality, safety and affordability of health care.
• Help consumers reap the benefits of making smart health care decisions

(www.leapfroggroup.org/).

The members of Leapfrog have to agree to purchase health care in the following manner for their enrollees:

1) Educating and informing enrollees about the safety, quality and affordability of health care and the importance of comparing the care health care providers give. Initial emphasis on the Leapfrog safety and quality practices.

2) Recognizing and rewarding health care providers for major advances in the safety, quality and affordability of their care.

3) Holding health plans accountable for implementing the Leapfrog purchasing principles.

4) Building the support of benefits consultants and brokers to use and advocate for the Leapfrog purchasing principles with all of their clients (http://www.leapfroggroup.org/media/file/lf_factsheet_01_26_06.pdf).