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Benipal H, Demers C, Cerasuolo JO, Perez R, You JJ, Amin F, Keshavjee K, Lee DS. Association of a Heart Failure Management Incentive in Primary Care With Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e031498. [PMID: 38156519 PMCID: PMC10863798 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.031498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aim to examine the association between primary care physicians' billing of Q050A, a pay-for-performance heart failure (HF) management incentive fee code, and the composite outcome of mortality, hospitalization, and emergency department visits. METHODS AND RESULTS This population-based cohort study linked administrative health databases in Ontario, Canada, for patients with HF aged >66 years between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2020. Cases were patients with HF who had a Q050A fee code billed. Cases and controls were matched 1:1 on age, sex, patient status on being rostered to a primary care physician, cardiologist, or internist visit in the 6 months before study enrollment, Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Group resource use bands, days between HF diagnosis and study enrollment (±2 years), and the logit of the propensity score. A Cox proportional hazards model assessed the association of Q050A with the outcome. A total of 59 664 cases had a Q050A billed, whereas 244 883 patients did not. Before matching, patients who had a Q050A billed were more likely to be men (52% versus 49%), were rostered to a primary care physician (100% versus 96%), had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, and had higher health care costs. The mean follow-up was 481 days for cases and 530 days for controls. The composite outcome (hazard ratio, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.09-1.12]) was significantly higher for cases than controls. CONCLUSIONS The Q050A incentive improved financial compensation for primary care physicians managing patients with HF but was not associated with improvements in the outcome. Research on promoting evidence-based HF management is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsukh Benipal
- Temerty Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TorontoToronto, OntarioCanada
| | - Catherine Demers
- Department of MedicineMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and ImpactMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
| | - Joshua O. Cerasuolo
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and ImpactMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
- Institute of Clinical Evaluative SciencesTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Richard Perez
- Institute of Clinical Evaluative SciencesTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - John J. You
- Division of General Internal and Hospitalist MedicineCredit Valley Hospital, Trillium Health PartnersMississaugaOntarioCanada
| | - Faizan Amin
- Department of MedicineMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
| | - Karim Keshavjee
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and EvaluationUniversity of TorontoToronto, OntarioCanada
- InfoClin IncTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Douglas S. Lee
- Temerty Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TorontoToronto, OntarioCanada
- Institute of Clinical Evaluative SciencesTorontoOntarioCanada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and EvaluationUniversity of TorontoToronto, OntarioCanada
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Ride J, Kasteridis P, Gutacker N, Gravelle H, Rice N, Mason A, Goddard M, Doran T, Jacobs R. Impact of prevention in primary care on costs in primary and secondary care for people with serious mental illness. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2023; 32:343-355. [PMID: 36309945 PMCID: PMC10092448 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A largely unexplored part of the financial incentive for physicians to participate in preventive care is the degree to which they are the residual claimant from any resulting cost savings. We examine the impact of two preventive activities for people with serious mental illness (care plans and annual reviews of physical health) by English primary care practices on costs in these practices and in secondary care. Using panel two-part models to analyze patient-level data linked across primary and secondary care, we find that these preventive activities in the previous year are associated with cost reductions in the current quarter both in primary and secondary care. We estimate that there are large beneficial externalities for which the primary care physician is not the residual claimant: the cost savings in secondary care are 4.7 times larger than the cost savings in primary care. These activities are incentivized in the English National Health Service but the total financial incentives for primary care physicians to participate were considerably smaller than the total cost savings produced. This suggests that changes to the design of incentives to increase the marginal reward for conducting these preventive activities among patients with serious mental illness could have further increased welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jemimah Ride
- Health Economics UnitMelbourne School of Population and Global HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | | | | | - Nigel Rice
- Centre for Health EconomicsUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | - Anne Mason
- Centre for Health EconomicsUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | | | - Tim Doran
- Health SciencesUniversity of YorkYorkUK
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Lin TK, Werner K, Witter S, Alluhidan M, Alghaith T, Hamza MM, Herbst CH, Alazemi N. Individual performance-based incentives for health care workers in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries: a systematic literature review. Health Policy 2022; 126:512-521. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Lu CW, Wu YF, Chen TH, Chung CM, Lin CL, Lin YS, Chen MY, Yang YH, Lin MS. A nationwide cohort investigation on pay-for-performance and major adverse limb events in patients with diabetes. Prev Med 2021; 153:106787. [PMID: 34506818 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance program to assess the effect of diabetic pay-for-performance (P4P) program on major adverse limb events (MALE) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study included patients with T2DM who had completed or not completed a 1-year P4P program from 2002 to 2013. Propensity-score matching was used to balance the baseline characteristics between groups. The Cox proportional-hazard model and Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard model were used to examine the association between P4P and the risks of MALE, MACE, systemic thromboembolism (ST), heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. Patients who underwent the P4P program had a significantly decreased incidence of MALE (2.0% vs. 2.6%, subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] 0.73, 95% CI 0.71-0.76). Regarding the individual components, the P4P group demonstrated lower risks for foot ulcer (1.1% vs 1.3%, SHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.77-0.84), gangrene (0.57% vs 0.93%, SHR 0.59, 95% CI 0.56-0.63), percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (0.61% vs 0.79%, SHR 0.72, 95% CI 0.68-0.77), and amputation (0.46% vs 0.75%, SHR 0.58, 95% CI 0.55-0.62). In addition, the risks of MACE, ST, HF hospitalization, and all-cause mortality were remarkably lower in the P4P group. The P4P program might significantly reduce critical events of MALE, MACE, ST, HF, and mortality in the diabetic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Wei Lu
- Department of Family Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Wu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Tien-Hsing Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Min Chung
- Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Liang Lin
- Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Sheng Lin
- Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yen Chen
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Hsu Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; Health Information and Epidemiology Laboratory of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Shyan Lin
- Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
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Berdahl CT, Easterlin MC, Ryan G, Needleman J, Nuckols TK. Primary Care Physicians in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): a Qualitative Investigation of Participants' Experiences, Self-Reported Practice Changes, and Suggestions for Program Administrators. J Gen Intern Med 2019; 34:2275-2281. [PMID: 31367868 PMCID: PMC6816727 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05207-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While both administrators of pay-for-performance programs and practicing physicians strive to improve healthcare quality, they sometimes disagree on the best approach. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 mandated the creation of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), a program that incentivizes more than 700,000 physician participants to report on four domains of care, including healthcare quality. While MIPS performance scores were recently released, little is known about how primary care physicians (PCPs) and their practices are being affected by the program and what actions they are taking in response to MIPS. OBJECTIVES To (1) describe PCP perspectives and self-reported practice changes related to quality measurement under MIPS and (2) disseminate PCP suggestions for improving the program. DESIGN Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews. PARTICIPANTS Twenty PCPs trained in internal medicine or family medicine who were expected to report under MIPS for calendar year 2017 were interviewed between October 2017 and June 2018. Eight PCPs self-reported to be knowledgeable about MIPS. Seven PCPs worked in small practices. KEY RESULTS Most PCPs identified advantages of quality measurement under MIPS, including the creation of practice-level systems for quality improvement. However, they also cited disadvantages, including administrative burdens and fears that practices serving vulnerable patients could be penalized. Many participants reported using technology or altering staffing to help with data collection and performance improvement. A few participants were considering selling small practices or joining larger ones to avoid administrative tasks. Suggestions for improving MIPS included simplifying the program to reduce administrative burdens, protecting practices serving vulnerable populations, and improving communication between program administrators and PCPs. CONCLUSIONS MIPS is succeeding in nudging PCPs to develop quality measurement and improvement systems, but PCPs are concerned that administrative burdens are leading to the diversion of clinical resources away from patient-centered care and negatively impacting patient and clinician satisfaction. Program administrators should improve communication with participants and consider simplifying the program to make it less burdensome. Future work should be done to investigate how technical assistance programs can target PCPs that serve vulnerable patient populations and are having difficulty adapting to MIPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl T Berdahl
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- UCLA National Clinician Scholars Program, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | | | - Gery Ryan
- Pardee RAND Graduate School, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Jack Needleman
- Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Teryl K Nuckols
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Gupta N, Lavallée R, Ayles J. Gendered effects of pay for performance among family physicians for chronic disease care: an economic evaluation in a context of universal health coverage. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2019; 17:40. [PMID: 31151400 PMCID: PMC6544935 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-019-0378-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite increasing popularity among health organizations of pay for performance (P4P) for the provision of comprehensive care for chronic non-communicable diseases, evidence of its effectiveness in improving health system outcomes is weak. An important void in the evidence base is whether there are gendered differences in P4P uptake and in related outcomes amenable to healthcare improvement. This study assesses the gender-specific effects of P4P among family physicians on diabetes healthcare costs in a context of universal health coverage. METHODS We use population-based linked longitudinal administrative datasets on chronic disease cases, physician billings, hospital discharge abstracts, and physician and resident registries in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. We estimate the effects of introduction of a P4P scheme on excess public healthcare costs among cohorts of adult diabetes patients using propensity score-adjusted difference-in-differences regressions stratified by physician's gender. RESULTS We observed greater male physician uptake of incentive payments, seemingly exacerbating gender gaps in professional remuneration. Regression results indicated P4P did not lead to improved outcomes in terms of preventing hospitalization costs among patients, only measurable increases in compensation for both the male and female physician workforce. CONCLUSIONS While P4P was not attributed in this study to reduced hospital burden and enhanced sustainability of healthcare financing, incentive payments were found to be related to earning gaps by physician's gender. Decision-makers should consider that benefits of P4P be monitored not only for patient metrics but also for provider metrics in terms of gender equality especially given feminization of primary care medical workforces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeru Gupta
- University of New Brunswick, 3 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada
| | - René Lavallée
- New Brunswick Department of Health, 520 King Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada
| | - James Ayles
- New Brunswick Department of Health, 520 King Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada
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