Specifications include, but are not limited to: Coordinating purchasing and contracting strategies across programs, including but not limited to shared pay-for-performance incentives and quality standards; Reducing administrative costs by encouraging the use of technology, including electronic medical records, and employing shared processes wherever possible; Seeking the highest quality health care standards, as defined by nationally accepted and recognized measures of quality; Promoting transparency in the delivery of and payment for health care services, as well as in outcomes achieved; Using payment systems to encourage care in the most cost-efficient and effective settings, promoting wellness, the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, including chronic mental disorders, and appropriate care for disabling conditions within primary care; Ensuring that investments in the expansion of health care services, new technologies, new facilities and new treatments appropriately meet the current and projected needs of communities; Partnering with businesses, schools and others to promote wellness and chronic disease prevention; Partnering with cities and towns to reduce their health care costs; Supporting and collaborating with communities in their efforts to promote healthy environments and individual wellness; Eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities through health care quality improvement, systems reform, community interventions and collaboration with communities; Supporting the goals of the Health Care Quality and Cost Council; and Educating the public to allow people seeking health care.
