Doctor 'pay-for-performance' improves patient care - Study examines 11 quality-based incentives

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Public release date: 10-Jan-2008

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/bpl-di011008.php

Contact: Wagner

swagner@...

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Doctor 'pay-for-performance' improves patient care

Study examines 11 quality-based incentives

Los Angeles, Calif. – January 10, 2008 - A new study examines whether

patients seeing physicians participating in a “pay-for-performance”

incentive program receive better care than those who saw

non-participating physicians. The health plan that was examined

reimburses physicians based on the quality of care they provide.

This study finds a strong correlation between quality of patient care

and physician participation in a quality-based incentive program. This

association grew even stronger over time, with patients who saw

program-member doctors exclusively during the trial period experiencing

significantly better quality of care than those that did not.

Looking at eleven evidence-based quality indicators, such as screening

for a number of different cancers, the study provides a comparison

between traditional and quality-based payment assessments over a

six-year period.

“The concept of reimbursing providers based—at least in part—on the

quality of care is not only a novel approach that is gaining popularity

within the health care sector, but an innovation that may have the

potential to improve the quality of care,” says Dr. P.

Legorreta, lead author of the study.

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This study is published in Health Services Research. Media wishing to

receive a PDF of this article may contact

journalnews@....

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information,

including other authors, author contributions and affiliations,

financial and other disclosures, funding and support.

P. Legorreta, M.D., M.P.H., is an Affiliate of the Department of

Health Services, in the School of Public Health at UCLA. He can be

reached for questions at ALegorreta@....

Health Services Research (HSR) provides those engaged in research,

public policy formulation, and health services management with the

latest findings, methods, and thinking on important policy and practice

issues. Providing a forum for the expansion of knowledge of the

financing, organization, delivery, and outcomes of health services, HSR

also allows practitioners and students alike to exchange ideas that will

help to improve the health of individuals and communities. HSR published

on behalf of Health Research and Educational Trust in cooperation with

AcademyHealth. For more information, please visit

www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/hesr.

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