NQF: What do you see as the most important way in which Medicare has improved the health and healthcare of older Americans?

LW: The most significant way in which Medicare has improved the lives of older Americans is through coverage. Before Medicare, about half of older Americans lacked access to healthcare. By enabling access to care, Medicare has made it possible for older Americans to do the things they really care about, whether spending time with family and friends or volunteering in their community. Medicare has not only improved the health and healthcare of older Americans—it has improved the lives of older Americans.

NQF: The voice of consumers has grown increasingly important in efforts to advance healthcare quality and measurement. In what ways is AARP working to engage its members to capture and share their healthcare experiences and outcomes?

LW: AARP engages its members through a variety of channels, including surveys, focus groups, town hall tele-meetings, and in-person listening sessions in every state. Much of our engagement involves educating consumers about different types of diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and hearing impairments. Members also inform our work by telling us what’s on their minds. One example: Through surveying our members and the broader 50+ population, we learned that caregiving is a very big issue. We subsequently launched an initiative that provides state-specific resources for caregivers, as well as a discussion forum that allows caregivers to connect with others experiencing similar issues. We’re also looking at developing policy solutions for caregivers.

NQF: How can Medicare improve the care of the nation’s aging population over the next 50 years?

LW: It’s important that Medicare continue to focus on encouraging the transformation of healthcare delivery so that we’re focusing on value rather than volume. It’s also crucial to keep focusing on person-centered care and making sure it’s consistent and of high quality. Focusing on measurement, specifically, I’d like to see Medicare continue to develop measures in gap areas, with more work on measures that capture patient-centered care, patient-reported outcomes and experiences, as well as measures that reflect the care and treatment of people with multiple chronic conditions. It’s also really important that Medicare continue to focus on eliminating disparities in care, and that measures, when they are developed, appropriately capture those disparities.