The value of the medical services a patient receives is subjective because it is
difficult to measure within the existing healthcare system. For example, should a
doctor or hospital get high marks — and higher payment — for performing a number
of successful surgeries? Or, should one be recognized and rewarded for preventing
the need for surgery in the first place or identifying non-surgical procedures based
on best practices?
As healthcare costs continue to rise, interest has risen in tying payment to
performance. The rush to measure the quality of the clinicians, treatments and
facilities has resulted in thousands of proposed metrics and enormous confusion. The
process of developing performance metrics and tying them to financial incentives
continues to evolve, and will continue to have a significant impact on providers,
payers, and patients.
Papers:
