From a consumer perspective, I urge insurers to (1) make it easy for both patients and their doctors to identify who the most cost-effective providers are, (2) explain the criteria that were used to determine quality, and (3) give consumers a financial incentive (perhaps a lower co-pay) to actually choose a cost-effective doctor, hospital, lab, imaging center, drug, etc.

Since commercial insurers are generally more responsive to employers (who pay most of the premiums) than to individual patients, I hope employers do their part to push this effort along. I think it is also important for consumers to understand, at least in general terms, why a cost-effective provider received that designation. Otherwise, some may think that they are just being encouraged to use providers who agreed to accept relatively low reimbursement rates whether they provide good quality care or not.