The Leapfrog Group Launches Updated Hospital Rewar...( Improved Program Supports Local V...),Health

Improved Program Supports Local Value-based Health Care Purchasing Initiatives

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, The Leapfrog Group launches a re-designed hospital improvement initiative, The Leapfrog Hospital Rewards Program (LHRP), a nationally standardized performance program that rewards hospitals for improvements in quality and resource utilization. Developed by healthcare experts, the new LHRP includes a standardized measure set and scoring methodology, in addition to customizable program features, that purchasers can license and implement in local markets.

"Value-based purchasing initiatives are spreading throughout the country, so it's important for Leapfrog to offer a nationally standardized and evidence-based approach so multiple payers can use LHRP simultaneously to accelerate the drive toward improving quality," said Leah Binder, CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

In 2005, The Leapfrog Group launched the first version of a rewards program for hospitals in two pilot markets. The redesigned LHRP is more comprehensive and easier to use for both hospitals and payers.

"We re-designed the program so that it uses measures from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey as its infrastructure and also incorporates best practices and lessons learned from our earlier pilot programs," said Binder. "We are excited to offer a new program that challenges hospitals to become top performers and rewards them for achieving progress toward this goal."

The new program was developed under the close guidance of a steering committee composed of experts from academia, hospitals, health plans, clinicians, as well as government representatives.

Features of the new LHRP include:

-- Single data source, based on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey

-- Increased clinical scope

-- Added resource utilization measure

-- Simplified scoring methodology

-- Customized program with rewards

The LHRP is now a
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