For Treatment Providers: a ’Health Reform Readiness Index’ from NIATx

Wisconsin-based NIATx has developed a new tool for behavioral healthcare treatment providers: a self-assessment it calls the “Health Reform Readiness Index.”

The goal is to help agency leaders determine their organization’s capacity to “undertake the changes resulting from health care reform, parity legislation, state budget shortfalls, and increased performance accountability.” The index was developed with input from the 22 organizations in 12 states that are participating in NIATx’s Accelerating Reform Initiative.

The readiness index helps agencies look at their readiness for change in 13 areas, for example around evidence-based practices. By defining their progress, agencies are able to determine what improvements they need to make, and how ready they are for improvement.

In each of the 13 categories, agencies will end up with ratings on a four-level scale that ranges from needing to begin work to being considered “advanced” in that area. Every agency will find areas needing improvement, and ideas for moving forward.