Judicialization of health arising from prepaid insurance plans and health law: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze publications regarding judicial demands related to the violation of the rights of the client who uses private health insurance in Brazil. METHOD: Integrative review, from September to October 2017, of national character, with complete texts online, in Portuguese and English, published between 2012 and 2017 in the Virtual Health Library portal, excluding studies that were duplicated or with indiscriminate methodology. RESULTS: The judicial demands were for: medication (32%); ward hospitalization (11%); surgical procedures (9%); orthosis, prothesis and special materials (9%); others (9%); and diagnostic procedures, outpatient service, hospitalization in Intensive Care Units, food formulas and disposable diapers (30%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of legal disputes arising from the failure in providing health service by private health insurances was observed, which makes it easier for the administrators to identify the sought health products and services in order to reorganize the administrative sphere and provide quality care.

Judicialization of health arising from prepaid insurance plans and health law: an integrative review / Judicialización de la salud resultante de los planes de prepago y el derecho sanitario: revisión integrativa / Judicialização da saúde decorrente dos planos de pré-pagamento e o direito sanitário: revisão integrativa

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze publications regarding judicial demands related to the violation of the rights of the client who uses private health insurance in Brazil. Method: Integrative review, from September to October 2017, of national character, with complete texts online, in Portuguese and English, published between 2012 and 2017 in the Virtual Health Library portal, excluding studies that were duplicated or with indiscriminate methodology. Results: The judicial demands were for: medication (32%); ward hospitalization (11%); surgical procedures (9%); orthosis, prothesis and special materials (9%); others (9%); and diagnostic procedures, outpatient service, hospitalization in Intensive Care Units, food formulas and disposable diapers (30%). Conclusion: The prevalence of legal disputes arising from the failure in providing health service by private health insurances was observed, which makes it easier for the administrators to identify the sought health products and services in order to reorganize the administrative sphere and provide quality care.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar las publicaciones acerca de las demandas judiciales relacionadas con la infracción a los derechos del usuario que utiliza un plan privado de salud en Brasil. Método: Revisión integrativa realizada entre septiembre y octubre de 2017, en ámbito nacional en los idiomas portugués e inglés, con textos completos y publicados en línea de 2012 a 2017 en el Portal de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, con la exclusión de los duplicados y de metodología indiscriminada. Resultados: Las demandas judiciales fueron: un 32% por medicamentos; un 11% por internación en enfermería; un 9% por procedimientos quirúrgicos; un 9% por ortesis, prótesis y materiales especiales; un 9% por otros; y un 30% por procedimientos diagnósticos, de atención ambulatoria, de internación en un Centro de Terapia Intensiva, de fórmulas alimentarias y pañales desechables. Conclusión: Se demostró una prevalencia de los litigios judiciales resultantes de una falla en la prestación del servicio de salud por los planes privados, lo que les facilita a los gestores identificar los productos y servicios de salud necesarios para reorganizar la esfera administrativa y la prestación de una asistencia con calidad.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as publicações a respeito de demandas judiciais relacionadas à infração aos direitos do usuário que utiliza plano privado de saúde no Brasil. Método: Revisão integrativa de setembro a outubro de 2017, com caráter nacional em português e inglês, textos online completos e publicados entre 2012 e 2017 no Portal da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, excluindo os duplicados e com metodologia indiscriminada. Resultados: As demandas judiciais foram: 32% medicamentos; 11% internação em enfermaria; 9% procedimentos cirúrgicos; 9% órtese, prótese e materiais especiais; 9% outros; e 30% de procedimentos diagnósticos, atendimento ambulatorial, internação em Centro de Terapia Intensiva, fórmulas alimentares e fraldas descartáveis. Conclusão: Demonstra-se a prevalência dos litígios judiciais decorrentes da falha na prestação do serviço de saúde pelos planos privados, o que facilita aos gestores identificar produtos e serviços de saúde pleiteados para reorganização da esfera administrativa e prestação de assistência com qualidade.

Programa de gerenciamento de doenças crônicas em um plano de saúde, são paulo, brasil / Programa de gestión de enfermedades crónicas en un seguro salud en el estado de são paulo, brasil / Chronic disease management program in a health plan, são paulo, brazil

RESUMO Atualmente as doenças crônicas não transmissíveis são as principais causas de morte no mundo. Consideradas doenças multifatoriais, têm em comum fatores de riscos modificáveis tais como inatividade física, colesterol elevado, excesso de peso, tabagismo, consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas e alimentação não saudável. Com o objetivo de verificar o impacto por um programa de Gerenciamento de Doenças Crônicas, após dois anos de acompanhamento, surgiu esta pesquisa. Trata-se de programa desenvolvido com um grupo de clientes de uma autogestão localizada no estado de São Paulo. É um estudo transversal realizado durante os anos de 2014-2015 com dados de prontuário eletrônico que foram comparados parâmetros clínicos e hábitos de vida de 1.509 indivíduos participantes de um programa de gerenciamento de doenças em dois momentos: na entrada ao programa e após dois anos de participação. Observaram-se resultados satisfatórios na melhora de parâmetros clínicos relacionados aos níveis pressóricos e à dosagem de glicemia em jejum, assim como diminuição do sedentarismo em indivíduos abaixo dos 60 anos.

RESUMEN Actualmente las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles son las principales causas de muerte en todo el mundo. Consideradas enfermedades multifactoriales, tienen en común factores de riesgo modificables, tales como inactividad física, colesterol alto, sobrepeso, tabaco, exceso de alcohol y alimentación poco sana. Con el objetivo de averiguar el impacto por un programa de Gestión de Enfermedades Crónicas, tras dos años de acompañamiento, se hizo esta investigación. Se trata de un programa desarrollado con un grupo de clientes de una autogestión ubicada en el estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Es un estudio transversal realizado durante los años de 2014-2015 con datos de registros médicos electrónicos, comparándose los parámetros clínicos y hábitos de vida de 1.509 personas que participan en un programa de gestión de enfermedades en dos ocasiones: cuando entran en el programa y después de dos años de participación. Se observaron resultados satisfactorios en la mejora de los parámetros clínicos relacionados con los niveles de presión arterial y a la dosificación de glucemia en ayunas, así como la disminución de la inactividad física en personas con edad abajo de 60 años.

ABSTRACT Currently, non-transmissible chronic diseases are leading causes of death worldwide. Considered as multifactorial diseases, they have common modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, high cholesterol, overweight, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and unhealthy diets. Aiming at verifying the impact of theChronic Disease Management program, this study arose after two years of follow-up. This is a program developed with a group of customers in a self-management platform in the state of São Paulo. This was a cross-sectional study carried out during 2014 and 2015 with electronic medical record data through the comparison ofthe clinical and lifestyle parameters of 1,509 individuals participating in a disease management program in two moments: at the program'sentry and two years after participation. Satisfactory results in the improvement of clinical parameters related to blood pressure and blood glucose levels in fasting were observed as well as decreased physical inactivity in individuals under 60 years of age.

O papel necessário da Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar na regulação das relações entre operadoras de planos de saúde e prestadores de serviços / The necessary role of the National Supplementary Health Agency in the regulation of relations between managed care companies and service providers

Este artigo trata do papel regulatório que caberia à Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS) desempenhar, a partir do resultado de um conjunto de pesquisas e estudos sobre as práticas de microrregulação exercidas pelas operadoras de planos de saúde sobre os prestadores hospitalares privados. O trabalho se baseia em diversos estudos e, especialmente, nos resultados da pesquisa de Ugá et al. (2007), cujos resultados permitiram a problematização de questões relativas à necessidade de regular alguns elementos da relação entre operadoras e prestadores hospitalares, fundamentais para a garantia do acesso e da qualificação da atenção recebida por clientes de operadoras de planos privados de saúde; e também relativas à importância que os prestadores hospitalares privados possuem para o SUS. Busca-se, assim, a partir dos estudos sobre o tema, refletir tanto sobre o papel regulador a ser desempenhado pela ANS nas relações contratuais entre operadoras e prestadores, quanto sobre o papel que ao SUS caberia exercer.

This paper discusses the regulatory role that would fit the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), from the results of researches and studies on the practices of micro-regulation performed by private managed care companies on hospital providers they contract. It is based on several studies, especially on the research by Ugá el al (2007), whose results allowed the questioning of issues related to the necessary regulation of some elements of the relationship between health managed care companies and hospital providers, key to ensuring access and qualification of health care received by customers of those companies, as well as the importance that hospital providers have for the public health system, SUS. The paper aims, therefore, from the studies on the subject, to reflect on the regulatory role to be played by ANS in the contractual relations between managed care companies and providers and on the role that would fit to the SUS on this matter.

Saúde suplementar / Supplemental health

Um dos desafios encontrados nos últimos anos para os gestores da área da saúde tem sido a regulação do setor de saúde suplementar e o estabelecimento da necessária interface com o SUS. Neste livro a regulamentação do setor de planos e seguros de saúde no Brasil é apresentada de forma detalhada com a apresentação das características gerais do sistema de saúde no Brasil, com a situação atual do mercado de saúde suplementar e o papel da ANS. O livro traz também informações atualizadas sobre o ressarcimento dos planos de saúde, a cobertura por região e o faturamento das operadoras, e a recente ampliação de procedimentos previstos. Nele, são abordadas as interfaces do setor de saúde suplementar com o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e os mecanismos de articulação instituciona.

Transição tecnológica em uma operadora de plano de saúde: o olhar do usuário / Technological transition in a supplemental health care provider: the user's viewpoint

O setor de saúde suplementar no Brasil vem experimentando, nos últimos anos, novos modelos de atenção à saúde. O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar como os usuários percebem e se posicionam em relação à implantação da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) por uma operadora do tipo autogestão. Utilizando-se de grupos focais com usuários considerados "aderidos" e "não-aderidos" à ESF, a pesquisa revela que os usuários têm uma compreensão bastante clara do significado da estratégia, inclusive de seus fortes elementos racionalizadores, percebem as contradições e deficiências no seu processo de formulação e implantação e mantêm um elevado grau de autonomia na escolha dos serviços que lhe sejam mais adequados, muito influenciados pelo tipo de inserção que têm no estabelecimento bancário que mantém a operadora. O usuário percebe, ainda, o impasse da autogestão entre manter uma ampla rede credenciada de livre acesso ou conseguir avançar no sentido de fazer da ESF o eixo estruturante de sua rede assistencial.

The Brazilian supplemental health care sector has been experiencing new health care models in the last few years. This paper aims at featuring how users perceive and how they express themselves in relation to the deployment of a program known as Family Health Strategy (FHS) by a self-management health care provider. Through focal groups, the research reveals that users present a rather clear view on the meaning of strategy, including its remarkable rationalizing elements. In addition, they percept contradictions as well as deficiencies in the formulation and deployment process, and they keep a high level of autonomy in the choice for more adequate services, which are greatly influenced by the type of insertion that they exert in the bank institution that maintains the health care service provider. Users also perceive the predicament presented by self-management regarding the maintenance of a broad authorized free access network and the advance towards turning FHS into the structuring backbone of its assistance network.

Modelagem do padrão TISS por meio do enfoque dual da Fundação openEHR / Modeling TISS standard using the openEHR dual-model approach

Em 2005, a Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS) estabelece o padrão TISS (Troca de Informação na Saúde Suplementar), intercâmbio eletrônico obrigatório entre as operadoras de planos de saúde (cerca de 1500 registradas na ANS) e prestadores de serviços (cerca de 200 mil) sobre os eventos de assistência prestados aos beneficiários. O padrão TISS foi desenvolvido seguindo a estrutura do Comitê ISO/TC215 de padrões para informática em saúde e se divide em quatro partes: conteúdo e estrutura, que compreende a estrutura das guias em papel; representação de conceitos em saúde, que se refere às tabelas de domínio e vocabulários em saúde; comunicação, que contempla as mensagens eletrônicas; e segurança e privacidade, seguindo recomendação do Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM). Para aprimorar sua metodologia de evolução, essa presente tese analisou o grau de interoperabilidade do padrão TISS segundo a norma ISO 20514 (ISO 20514, 2005) e a luz do modelo dual da Fundação openEHR, que propõe padrões abertos para arquitetura e estrutura do Registro Eletrônico de Saúde (RES). O modelo dual da Fundação openEHR é composto, no primeiro nível, por um modelo de referência genérico e, no segundo, por um modelo de arquétipos, onde se detalham os conceitos e atributos. Dois estudos foram realizados: o primeiro se refere a um conjunto de arquétipos demográficos elaborados como proposta de representação da informação demográfica em saúde, baseado no modelo de referência da Fundação openEHR. O segundo estudo propõe um modelo de referência genérico, como aprimoramento das especificações da Fundação openEHR, para representar o conceito de submissão de autorização e contas na saúde, assim como um conjunto de arquétipos. Por fim, uma nova arquitetura para construção do padrão TISS é proposta, tendo como base o modelo dual da Fundação openEHR e como horizonte a evolução para o RES centrado no paciente.

In 2005 the Brazilian National Healthcare Agency (Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS), in Portuguese) published the TISS standard, a mandatory electronic exchange claims between the health insurance (approximately 1500 registered at ANS) and healthcare providers (approximately 200 000) about the healthcare events provided to the beneficiaries. The TISS standard was developed following the structure of the ISO/TC215 Committee for Health Informatics and is divided into four parts: data structure that encompasses the forms; semantic content that refers to the vocabularies and terminologies; data interchange that includes the electronic messages; and security issues in healthcare information following a recommendation of the Federal Council of Medicine (Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM), in Portuguese). To improve the TISS standard’s evolution, this study analyses the levels of interoperability in accordance with ISO 20514 (ISO 20514, 2005) and the dual model of the openEHR Foundation, which proposes open standards for Electronic Health Records (EHR) architecture and healthcare information. The dual model of the openEHR Foundation specifications is composed, on the first level, by a generic reference model and on the second by an archetype model that details the concepts and attributes. Two studies were conducted in this thesis: the first one refers to a set of demographic archetypes developed as a proposal representation of the demographic information, based on the reference model of the openEHR Foundation. The second study proposes a generic reference model, as an improvement of the openEHR specifications, to represent the concept of submission of claims, as well as a set of archetypes. Finally, a new architecture for building the TISS standard is proposed based on the dual model of the openEHR Foundation and envisioning a patient-centered EHR.

[Healthcare structure and quality among inpatient care providers for health plans in Brazil]. / Estrutura e qualidade assistencial dos prestadores de serviços hospitalares à saúde suplementar no Brasil.

This study aimed to characterize inpatient care providers for health plans in Brazil, considering that knowledge on healthcare providers is still incipient, particularly in relation to healthcare structure and quality. A national survey was performed, focusing on 3,817 hospitals. A stratified sample of 83 hospitals was selected, and data were collected from September to December 2006 using interviews with hospital administrators. Hospital care was characterized using variables related to installed capacity and services output, as well as practices and structures for healthcare quality assurance and control. The final sample consisted of 74 hospitals, representing an estimated universe of 3,799 hospitals. Inpatient care providers for health plans, mainly for the Unified National Health System (SUS), showed limited presence of structures and practices for improving management and healthcare quality.

Estrutura e qualidade assistencial dos prestadores de serviços hospitalares à saúde suplementar no Brasil / Healthcare structure and quality among inpatient care providers for health plans in Brazil

Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar os prestadores de serviços hospitalares no setor de saúde suplementar, uma vez que o conhecimento sobre tais prestadores ainda é incipiente, particularmente em relação à estrutura e à qualidade assistencial. Foi realizado um inquérito nacional, tendo como universo de interesse 3.817 hospitais. Uma amostra estratificada de 83 hospitais foi selecionada. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre setembro e dezembro de 2006, por meio de entrevistas com os dirigentes dos hospitais. Para a caracterização assistencial dos hospitais, foram contempladas variáveis relativas à capacidade instalada e produção de serviços, bem como às práticas e estruturas de garantia e monitoramento da qualidade do cuidado. A amostra final pesquisada resultou em 74 hospitais, correspondendo a um universo estimado de 3.799 unidades. Os hospitais prestadores de serviços para operadoras, majoritariamente provedores de serviços ao Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), apresentaram baixa presença de estruturas e práticas de qualificação da gestão e de monitoramento da qualidade assistencial.

This study aimed to characterize inpatient care providers for health plans in Brazil, considering that knowledge on healthcare providers is still incipient, particularly in relation to healthcare structure and quality. A national survey was performed, focusing on 3,817 hospitals. A stratified sample of 83 hospitals was selected, and data were collected from September to December 2006 using interviews with hospital administrators. Hospital care was characterized using variables related to installed capacity and services output, as well as practices and structures for healthcare quality assurance and control. The final sample consisted of 74 hospitals, representing an estimated universe of 3,799 hospitals. Inpatient care providers for health plans, mainly for the Unified National Health System (SUS), showed limited presence of structures and practices for improving management and healthcare quality.

Rastreamento e diagnóstico de câncer de próstata / Screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer

Não existem até o momento provas contundentes que a população coberta pelo plano de saúde UNIMED-POA deva ser submetida ao rastreamento sistemático do câncer de próstata com o intuito de reduzir a mortalidade decorrente deste tipo de câncer, uma vez que não existem estudos desenhados no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul que contemplem este aspecto. Recentemente, dois grandes estudos randomizados que visavam a esclarecer se o rastreamento populacional poderia reduzir a mortalidade por câncer de próstata concluíram: em estudo realizado nos Estados Unidos (prostate, lung, colorectal and ovary trial), não houve diferença na mortalidade da população rastreada ou não; no estudo europeu (European randomized of screening for prostate cancer), houve uma redução de 20 por cento da mortalidade da população rastreada em relação à não rastreada. Cabe ressaltar que ambos os estudos apresentaram, entre outros problemas, viés de seleção dos pacientes, onde mais de 50 por cento do grupo teoricamente não rastreado efetivamente realizou exames antes ou durante o estudo. Sendo assim, permanece recomendada realização de rastreamento nas diretrizes da Associação Americana de Urologia, Associação Europeia de Urologia e Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia.

So far, there is no compelling evidence that the local population covered by the health plan UNIMED-POA should be submitted to systematic screening for prostate cancer in order to reduce mortality resulting from this type of cancer, as no studies in Rio Grande do Sul have been performed to address this particular issue. In other countries, two large randomized studies aimed at clarifying whether such screening could reduce mortality from prostate cancer were conducted recently: the prostate, lung, colorectal and ovary trial in the United States, and the European randomized screening for prostate cancer. In the former, there was no difference in mortality between screened and non-screened groups; in the latter there was a 20 percent reduction in mortality in the screened as compared to the non-screened group. It should be highlighted that both studies had many design problems including biased selection of patients, as more than 50 percent of the supposedly non-screened group was in fact submitted to medical tests either before or during the trial. Therefore, screening still should be performed according to the guidelines of the American Association of Urology, European Association of Urology and the Brazilian Society of Urology.

[Clinical guidelines and other practices for improving quality of care by health plans from the perspective of their operators in Brazil]. / Diretrizes clínicas e outras práticas voltadas para a melhoria da qualidade assistencial em operadoras de planos de saúde sob a perspectiva dos seus dirigentes, no Brasil.

This study aimed to characterize the implementation of clinical guidelines and other instruments and practices for health care quality improvement among health plan operators in Brazil. It was a national cross-sectional descriptive study, initially considering 1,573 health plan operators registered in the National Agency for Supplementary Health Care. The sample design was complex, stratified by macro-region, market segment, and number of beneficiaries. Ninety health plan operators agreed to participate and were interviewed. To obtain estimates for the universe of health plan operators, a sample expansion factor attributed per stratum was considered. Only 32.3% of the health plan operators implemented clinical guidelines, with important variation across regions and market segments. Clinical governance practices are still in the very initial stages. Challenges are presented with regard to health care incorporation as a dimension of management within health care organizations, including health plan operators. Initiatives to improve quality of care need to be integrated and conducted at the organizational level.

Designing a system for managing the performance of mental health managed care: an example from New York State's prepaid mental health plan.

The organization, financing, and delivery of publicly funded behavioral health services are undergoing massive changes nationwide. Managed care principles and practices are being implemented widely and are being relied on increasingly to meet the challenges of containing costs and improving service effectiveness. To meet these goals, comprehensive systems are under development for measuring and reporting outcomes experienced by individuals who received services and for assessing the impact of managed care strategies on the service delivery system. This article presents an example from the Prepaid Mental Health Program in New York State. It highlights the development, implementation, and early experiences with the plan's performance management system for public sector managed behavioral health, a basis for continuous quality improvement activities and information reporting products such as report cards. Policy, administrative, and financial implications are illuminated.

Collaborative approaches to purchasing and managing oncology services for a prepaid population.

BACKGROUND: Change created by managed care plans is producing tensions among oncology care providers, health plans, patients, and employers. Managed care plans, which now are dominant, are engendering concern among some patients and providers because those plans limit provider choice and reimbursement, as well as inject themselves in clinical decision-making. Collaborative approaches to purchasing and managing oncology service for a prepaid population should help reduce these tensions. METHODS: This article provides a case history of how Harvard University Health Services, a managed care delivery and insurance program serving the university collaborates with contracted oncology providers. The described approach defines mutually beneficial payment and shared responsibility for care in the context of patient centered values. As a part of this collaborative effort, liberal experimental treatment coverage is offered. RESULTS: Patient care is improved because the flow of clinical information among caregivers is improved. When communication is more open, nurse case managers who work for the managed care plan also can arrange for covered services in a more expeditious manner. CONCLUSIONS: Collaboration among health plans, oncologists, and other health care providers to provide patients with high quality, cost-effective care on a fully informed basis is challenging, but not impossible. The key is to define common ground and commitment to the needs of patients among health plans and providers.

Changes in the process of care for Medicaid patients with schizophrenia in Utah's Prepaid Mental Health Plan.

OBJECTIVE: Changes in the process of psychiatric care received by Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia were examined after the introduction of capitated payments for enrollees of some community mental health centers (CMHCs) under the Utah Prepaid Mental Health Plan. METHODS: Data from the medical records of 200 patients receiving care in CMHCs participating in the prepaid plan were compared with data from the records of 200 patients in nonparticipating CMHCs, which remained in a fee-for-service reimbursement arrangement. Using the Process of Care Review Form, trained abstracters gathered data characterizing general patient management, social support, medication management, and medical management before implementation of the plan in 1990 and for three follow-up years. Using regression techniques, differences in the adjusted changes between third-year follow-up and baseline were examined by treatment site. RESULTS: By year 3 at the CMHCs participating in the plan, psychotherapy visits decreased, the probability of a patient's terminating treatment or being lost to follow-up increased, the probability of having a case manager increased, the probability of a crisis visit decreased (but still exceeded that at the nonplan sites), and the probability of treatment for a month or longer with a suboptimal dosage of antipsychotic medication increased. Only modest changes in the process of care were observed at the nonplan CMHCs. CONCLUSIONS: Change in the process of psychiatric care was more evident at the sites participating in the plan, where traditional therapeutic encounters were de-emphasized in response to capitation. The array of changes raises questions about the vigor of care provided to a highly vulnerable group of patients.

The two cultures and the health care revolution. Commerce and professionalism in medical care.

The current trend toward the invasion of commerce into medical care, an arena formerly under the exclusive purview of physicians, is seen by the authors as an epic clash of cultures between commercial and professional traditions in the United States. Both have contributed to US society for centuries; both have much to offer in strengthening medical care and reducing costs. At the same time, this invasion by commercialism of an arena formerly governed by professionalism poses severe hazards to the care of the sick and the welfare of communities: the health of the public and the public health. Some of these hazards are briefly listed and reviewed, together with a brief outline of standards that might be established nationally to abate these hazards. A national agency in the private sector is proposed, the National Council on Medical Care, to set standards and provide an approval mechanism that would then be the basis for state enforcement through licensing. Two models for such an initiative are outlined, one based on the National Academy of Sciences as the initiating force, and the other on an initiative provided by a consortium of national charitable foundations interested in health policy. In both cases, wide support from the national foundations would be essential. In the case of the academy model, some government funds might also be available without loss of the freedom of a private-sector initiative. Some operational options for such a national council, its membership, and the conduct of its affairs are briefly outlined as a basis for further discussion.