An Interview with Miami-Dade County Public School District

November 8, 2024

Miami-Dade County Public School District (MDCPS) is the third-largest school district in the nation and the largest in the state of Florida. MDCPS employs over 34,000 employees and teaches 332,000 students. In a recent discussion, The Leapfrog Group and Rosa Novo, the school district’s employee benefits director, delved into the challenges for payors and explored how Leapfrog’s data can reassure employers about providing safe employee care.

 

Leapfrog: How are you sharing Leapfrog data with your employees?

Novo: Leapfrog data is not just a tool; it's the cornerstone of our health care and contracting strategy. It empowers us to collaborate with our hospitals, driving continuous improvement in safety and quality. This strategic use of data sets us apart and ensures the safety of our employees, making them an integral part of our health care decisions.


I share Leapfrog information with union leaders and upper management when I know that someone on my team will need a procedure. The data is invaluable, and the site is fantastic, providing us with so much information. In discussions with our health plan, they know we cannot continue with the status quo. We may be facing a conversation regarding removing a health system in our area. It might come to the point that I say take out this hospital because the cost is no longer sustainable, and there is a lack of quality and information. In some health systems, the cost of some procedures could be more than 630% of the amount Medicare covers, and even still, quality of care is not provided. 


At MDCPS, we have supported not including a health system that refuses to participate in the Leapfrog survey. We understand that impactful changes require top-down support. In our meetings with the superintendent, other stakeholders, board members and the C-suite, we stress the importance of quality in our benefits discussions. We also educate our union leaders on the challenges of negotiating contracts that meet our needs and are affordable. This collective effort, with buy-in from the top, is what drives our success.


We also use Leapfrog data when we are at the table with the hospital system. Leapfrog is the watchdog that provides us with information to have meaningful conversations with different parties, including hospitals. It's an eye-opening conversation when we inform them of the opportunities to improve the safety and quality of care they provide. Employers need to be willing to have a blunt conversations about what is working and what is not, and this is crucial for the improvement of our health care system.

Leapfrog: Why is Leapfrog important to you and your employees?

Novo: Leapfrog is vital because our health care system is complicated to navigate, and it is essential to understand an individual’s best choice. Leapfrog provides feedback on health care safety practices and recommendations on best approaches. This helps us focus on quality measurements in collaboration with key partners in the health care industry, expanding its outreach beyond providers. 


Additionally, Leapfrog brings the payor community into the conversation, and it allows, through the partnerships of coalitions, to have a united approach and voice in making significant, meaningful changes in the delivery of health care. Many individuals vocalize their frustration with the health care system and call it a “broken system.” The system is not broken, as many components do provide the care individuals need. However, we could focus more on preventative care and on understanding that the entire human body is connected, so a whole-person approach is extremely important. Therefore, we have an opportunity to look at the system and see if we address patient care, safety and quality. We, as employers, need to focus on identifying the best strategy for educating the individuals we represent on what is offered, not only from a resource standpoint but also on the impact of those resources and how they can assist them in getting the care they need.  They must understand what Leapfrog offers in its quality and safety ratings. 
 

Leapfrog: Lastly, how does your team evaluate the quality of care you provide for your employees?

Novo: We’ve discussed the importance of evaluating quality and safety. MDCPS faces significant health care cost increases like many employers. While our strategy focuses on offering affordable benefits aligned with our employees’ needs, we are unwavering in our commitment to providing high-quality care. We understand that cost is a concern, but we do not compromise on quality of care. 


My primary goal is to ensure our employees can access the care they need. Since the early 1900s, when the concept of health insurance first came into existence, the health care system has been designed to be a reactive system, with minimal focus on prevention. However, we are now witnessing a shift towards a more proactive approach. Individuals seek care when they get sick, but our focus is to change this narrative. We want to empower our employees to research quality, cost and outcomes and to prioritize preventative care to stay healthy. Therefore, we incorporate quality and safety by educating our employees to look up provider quality information on different sites. Leapfrog’s information is part of our discussion when assisting employees.

Visit Newsletter