• An evaluation of the outcomes of outcomes research and the impact of AHRQ-supported outcomes and effectiveness research on clinical practice.

• An evaluation and synthesis of (1) primary care research supported by AHRQ and (2) an assessment of the current state of the science and future directions for primary care research.

• AHRQ's state data strategy will be redesigned based on consultations with state policy makers, researchers, hospital associations, and others about their past use of data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) as well as additional data needs.

• Results of the evaluation of the Consumer Assessment of Health Plan Study (CAHPS®) will be used to improve the usability and usefulness of the tool. Findings are expected to show whether (a) the survey-based information from CAHPS® helps consumers make better health care decisions, (b) the information increases consumer confidence when choosing health care plan, and (3) CAHPS® is used by public and private organizations.

• Evaluation studies on: (1) the quality and usefulness of the evidence reports and technology assessments produced by the Evidence-based Practice Centers and (2) the impact of the use of these products on the health care system will be developed and initiated in FY 1999.

• Have a fully functional MEPS-based MEDSIM model to allow simulation of the potential impact of programmatic changes in health care financing and delivery Dec 2002.

• Produce baseline FY statistics on number of MEPS-based articles published in peer review journals.

• Conduct customer satisfaction survey for MEPS workshop participants to assess how MEPS data is being used to inform research and public policy.

• Develop marketing plan to promote the MEPS-IC data to state officials Dec 2002.

• At least 5 examples of how research using MEPS has been used to inform decisions by Federal, state and private sector policymakers.

• Use of MEPS data in AHRQ research applications will increase by 10 percent over number received in baseline period of 2000

• Feedback from MEPS workshop participants indicating that they were useful and timely.

• At least 5 examples of how research using MEPS has been used to inform decisions by Federal, state and private sector policymakers.

• AHRQ Clearinghouse customer satisfaction rated at 98%.

• Customer satisfaction data on AHRQ consumer publications (useful/relevant) rated at 90%.

• Use of MEPS data in 1% of research applications received by AHRQ.

• Distribution of MEPS data sets to at least 2500 requestors.

• At least 5 examples of how research using MEPS has been used to inform decisions by Federal, state, and private sector policymakers.

• Feedback from recipients of MEPS data indicating that the data were timely, useful, and of high significance.

• Integration of at least one private sector data source into the national quality report by 31 December 2002.

• QI Taxonomy meeting held under the auspices of the QuIC.

• Number of grants and contracts funded in FY 2001 that will help to fill gaps in the information available to assess the national quality of care, or will help to expand the use of current measures to provide a broader or richer picture of quality.

• Data sources identified that will contribute information as part of the mosaic picture of quality of care in the Nation.

• Develop and begin to test some questions to be added to existing data collection activities to provide a better picture of quality.

• Develop framework for National Healthcare Quality Report.

• Provide leadership for the Executive Branch's Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force (QuIC).

• Collaborative work groups are established under the QuIC under take projects with direct application to improving quality of care.

• In addition to the work on specific projects chosen by the QuIC, communication is facilitated on common issues such as: 1) Implementation of the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities from the President's Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry; And 2) organization or management strategies to improve quality of care.

• Funding of at least 5 projects bringing healthcare information to the public in an understandable, user friendly manner which facilitates its use in decision making.

• Number of grants to improve patient safety.

• Adoption of Agency sponsored research and tools developed by one or more users to facilitate consumers/purchaser/decisionmaker use of information about quality

• Development of at least one tool that can be used by large group purchasers in assisting their beneficiaries to choose the health care plan, provider, or hospital that best meets their needs.

• Inventory of measures and risk adjustment methods currently in use by Federal Agencies will be developed.

• Assessment of measures and risk adjustment methods needed by Federal Agencies will be conducted.

• Identification of collaborators for research projects on electronic medical records integrated with guidelines (e.g., from the Guideline Clearinghouse) or QI indicators (e.g., CONQUEST, QI Taxonomy project, HCUP measures).

• Adoption of Living With Illness children's health measure by NCQA.

• Sponsor research to fill existing gaps in quality measures in areas of high need.

• Review research conducted that identifies appropriate ways of redesigning health care delivery systems to reduce errors.

• Develop a method to facilitate user's custom cross tabulations of MEPS data.

• Conduct six MEPS data user workshops.

• Expand MEPS list-server participation by 20%.

• Produce 4 Findings and at least one Chartbook.

• Develop Frequently Asked Questions Section for MEPS web site.

• In FY 2001, 1997 Use and Expenditures, 2000 Point-in-Time, and 1998 Health Insurance and Demographics MEPS public use data files will be released.

• Response time for requests received for information, assistance or specific products is as promised 95 percent of time

• Core MEPS public use files (PUFs) available through Web site and CD-ROM within 9-18 months after data collection completed.

• Specific products due in FY 2000:

• Customer satisfaction data from use of MEPS tapes and products rated at least 90%.

• Response time for requests received from policymakers, purchasers and plans for MEPS data tapes, analyses, and/or reports responded to within promised time frames 95% of time.

• Core MEPS public use files (PUFs) available through Website and CD-ROM within 9-12 months after data collection completed.

• Specific products due in FY 1999:

• Research findings and survey reports developed and disseminated for use by policy makers and researchers including MEPS Research Findings, MEPS Highlights, chart books, peer-reviewed journal articles, book published on contributions of expenditure surveys to policy making, publications oriented toward non-researchers.)

• Customer satisfaction data from use of MEPS tapes and products rated at 85%.

• Requests received from policymakers, purchasers and plans for MEPS data tapes, analyses, and/or reports responded to within promised time frames 85% of the time.

• Determine the feasibility of existing mechanisms to provide off-site access to confidential MEPS data.

• Expand data center capacity by 10% over FY 01 level.

• Establish baseline for Data Center use capacity.

• Data centers operational

          + # requests for use of the centers
          + # user-days at the data centers
          + # projects completed

• Inclusion of MEPS data in extramural research grants with AHRQ and other funders.

• Plan for extramural researcher access to MEPS data fully implemented

• Process and make available data to be included in the National Quality Report.

• Begin data collection to support the disparities report Sept 2002.

• Data collection begins on the treatment of common clinical conditions over time for a nationally representative portion of the population in support of the National Healthcare Quality Report.

• LTC Measures:

1. Have developed data use agreements (DUA) with HCFA to assess and begin data development related to the MDS.

2. Design MEPS over sample of adults with functional limitations and children with special needs.

3. Produce one report related to LTC.

4. Have developed IAA with NCHS for LTC frame development activities.

5. Submit at least one peer-reviewed publication in the area of LTC.

• The design decisions necessary for the expansion of MEPS databases in order to collect data that will support the National Healthcare Quality Report are completed by August 2000. The design decisions will be operationalized in the coming fiscal years.

• MEPS Household Survey: Interviews with 9,000 previously surveyed families to obtain calendar year 1998 health care data, and with 5,600 new families.

• MEPS Medical Provider Survey: Interviews with approximately 3,000 facilities, 12,000 office-based providers, 7,000 hospital-identified physicians, and more than 500 home health providers.

• MEPS Insurance Component (MEPS-IC): Interviews with more than 40,000 employers and 1,000 insurance carriers.

• MEPS data collection successfully moved to ongoing survey mode from data collection every ten years.

• Internal customer satisfaction rated at minimum of 4.5/5.

• External customer satisfaction rated at 4.5/5.

• Customer satisfaction survey results assessed and used to implement changes to improve and enhance services.

• Internal customer satisfaction rated at minimum of 4.5/5.

• External customer satisfaction rated at 4/5.

• Customer satisfaction survey results assessed and used to implement changes to improve and enhance services.

• Customer satisfaction rated at minimum of 3.5/4.

• Demonstration through customer satisfaction surveys that the daily work of staff has been facilitated by the Intranet.

• Assessment of customer satisfaction surveys and use of such surveys to implement changes to improve and enhance services as necessary.

• Customer satisfaction rated at minimum of 3.5/4.

• Customer satisfaction surveys assessed and used to implement changes to improve and enhance services as necessary.

• Perform initial tests, (periodically, beginning in 2nd quarter of FY 2002) to evaluate the preliminary policies and procedures.

• Preliminary policies and procedures for reducing security risks will be developed by the end of FY 2001.

• Initial criteria for reporting security incidents will be established by the end of CY 2001.

• Initial procedures for responding to security incidents will be established by the end of CY 2001.

• Implementation of a Secure Phase 1 LAN for analysis of intramural research and survey data will be completed by end of FY-01.

• Implementation of a Phase 1 firewall, intrusion detection and virus control system will be in place by end of CY 2001.

• Initial security awareness training will begin by end of CY 2001.