Using External Quality Review Organizations to Improve the Quality of Preventive and Developmental Services for Children

Federal regulations encourage state Medicaid agencies to use external quality review organizations (EQROs) to help implement strategies for assessing the quality of services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans. This study provides state Medicaid programs, managed care organizations, EQROs, and other child health professionals with strategies for using EQROs to enhance the quality of preventive and developmental services for young children. Although only a few states currently are using their EQROs for this purpose, the findings indicate that additional states are likely to do so in the future if they can find help in applying contemporary research tools within a quality improvement framework.