OOPS. The National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private company, reports that poor quality medical care led to 79,000 avoidable deaths last year and $1.8 billion in additional medical costs.

NCQA also reported a shift from tightly managed HMOs toward more loosely managed PPOs (preferred provider organizations) that are not monitored by NCQA. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care took first place in clinical care and member satisfaction. They only work in New England, so you cannot switch to them if you live here in the Lone Star State.