P4P Survey and Comments

The American College of Physician Executives did a survey on P4P.  Here are a few of the survey results (from over 900 participants):

1.  Only about 40% of the organizations had a P4P program.
2. 58% of those without a P4P program are considering it.
3. 60% think P4P will be a permanent part of healthcare.

I found the comments even more interesting.  Here are a few:

• It is sad to see some HMOs to put the programs (carrott) out there and then look for every loop hole to deny payment.
• The challenge is defining the performance and quality improvment. Clearly rewards for volume through the office or RVU’s per month work, but the real issue is the quality of the outcome for a given patient. Defining the clinical outcome is the slippery slope. I think physicians are going to resist being told what they get to create for fear of being judged less than capable. So, the tendency will be to set the bar lower that what could be achieved.
• In California the P4P program is working very well with significant improvement in outcomes.