Health plans' quality of care improved in 2007 -- the ninth consecutive year of continued improvements -- according to a study released Thursday by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The study is based on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, which has data on 54 measures of health care quality from more than 800 government-run and private health plans (Rosetta, Salt Lake Tribune, 10/2).

NCQA found that commercial health plans showed improvement in 44 of 54 measures, including better treatment for high blood pressure and postpartum depression. Private Medicare plans showed improvement in 24 of 45 measures, including an increase of heart attack patients being treated with beta-blockers. However, there was a decrease in the number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving breast and colon cancer screenings, CQ HealthBeat reports.

The quality of care through Medicaid plans has remained relatively unchanged over the past two years, according to the report…