The price of quality care: cross-sectional associations between out-of-pocket payments and quality of care in six low-income countries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between out-of-pocket (OOP) payments and primary health care quality in six low-income countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Nepal, Senegal and Tanzania. METHODS: We examined the association between OOP payments and quality of care during antenatal care and sick child care visits using Service Provision Assessments data. We defined four process quality outcomes from observations of clinical care: visit duration, history-taking items asked, exam items performed, and counselling items delivered. The outcome is the total amount paid for services. We used multilevel models to test the relationship between OOP payments and each quality measure in public, private non-profit and private for-profit facilities controlling for patient, provider, and facility characteristics. RESULTS: Across the six countries, an average of 42% of the 29 677 observed clients paid for their visit. In the adjusted models, OOP payments were positively associated with the visit duration during sick child visits, with history-taking and exam items during antenatal care visits, and with counselling in private for-profit facilities for both visit types. These associations were strong particularly in Afghanistan, the DRC and Haiti; for example, a high-quality antenatal care visit in the DRC would cost approximately USD 1.12 more than a visit with median quality. CONCLUSION: Provider effort was associated with higher OOP payments for sick child and antenatal care services in the six countries studied. While many families are already spending high amounts on care, they must often spend even more to receive higher quality care.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the quality of primary care under Brazil's national pay-for-performance programme: a longitudinal study of family health teams.

BACKGROUND: Many governments have introduced pay-for-performance programmes to incentivise health providers to improve quality of care. Evidence on whether these programmes reduce or exacerbate disparities in health care is scarce. In this study, we aimed to assess socioeconomic inequalities in the performance of family health teams under Brazil's National Programme for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ). METHODS: For this longitudinal study, we analysed data on the quality of care delivered by family health teams participating in PMAQ over three rounds of implementation: round 1 (November, 2011, to March, 2013), round 2 (April, 2013, to September, 2015), and round 3 (October, 2015, to December, 2019). The primary outcome was the percentage of the maximum performance score obtainable by family health teams (the PMAQ score), based on several hundred (ranging from 598 to 914) indicators of health-care delivery. Using census data on household income of local areas, we examined the PMAQ score by income ventile. We used ordinary least squares regressions to examine the association between PMAQ scores and the income of each local area across implementation rounds, and we did an analysis of variance to assess geographical variation in PMAQ score. FINDINGS: Of the 40 361 family health teams that were registered as ever participating in PMAQ, we included 13 934 teams that participated in the three rounds of PMAQ in our analysis. These teams were located in 11 472 census areas and served approximately 48 million people. The mean PMAQ score was 61·0% (median 61·8, IQR 55·3-67·9) in round 1, 55·3% (median 56·0, IQR 47·6-63·4) in round 2, and 61·6% (median 62·7, IQR 54·4-69·9) in round 3. In round 1, we observed a positive socioeconomic gradient, with the mean PMAQ score ranging from 56·6% in the poorest group to 64·1% in the richest group. Between rounds 1 and 3, mean PMAQ performance increased by 7·1 percentage points for the poorest group and decreased by 0·8 percentage points for the richest group (p<0·0001), with the gap between richest and poorest narrowing from 7·5 percentage points (95% CI 6·5 to 8·5) to -0·4 percentage points over the same period (-1·6 to 0·8). INTERPRETATION: Existing income inequalities in the delivery of primary health care were eliminated during the three rounds of PMAQ, plausibly due to a design feature of PMAQ that adjusted financial payments for socioeconomic inequalities. However, there remains an important policy agenda in Brazil to address the large inequities in health. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, Newton Fund, and CONFAP (Conselho Nacional das Fundações Estaduais de Amparo à Pesquisa).

Lean implementation in healthcare supply chain: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to identify the lean production (LP) practices applied in healthcare supply chain and the existing barriers related to their implementation. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: To achieve that, a scoping review was carried out in order to consolidate the main practices and barriers, and also to evidence research gaps and directions according to different theoretical lenses. FINDINGS: The findings show that there is a consensus on the potential of LP practices implementation in healthcare supply chain, but most studies still report such implementation restricted to specific unit or value stream within a hospital. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Healthcare organizations are under constant pressure to reduce costs and wastes, while improving services and patient safety. Further, its supply chain usually presents great opportunities for improvement, both in terms of cost reduction and quality of care increase. In this sense, the adaptation of LP practices and principles has been widely accepted in healthcare. However, studies show that most implementations fall far short from their goals because they are done in a fragmented way, and not from a system-wide perspective.

A Systematic Review of Asynchronous, Provider-to-Provider, Electronic Consultation Services to Improve Access to Specialty Care Available Worldwide.

BACKGROUND: Electronic consultation (eConsult) is an asynchronous electronic communication tool allowing primary care providers to obtain a specialist consultant's expert opinion in a timely manner, thereby offering a potential solution to excessive wait times for specialist care, which remain a serious concern in many countries. INTRODUCTION: Our 2014 review of eConsult services demonstrated feasibility and high acceptability among patients and providers. However, gaps remain in knowledge regarding eConsult's impact on system costs and patient outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review in May 2017 of English and French literature on OVID Medline, EMBASE, ERIC, and CINAHL databases, examining all studies on eConsult services published since our previous review. The Quadruple Aim Framework was used to synthesize outcomes. Articles reporting on the impact of eConsult on access, patient safety and satisfaction, utilization rates, clinical workflow, and continuing medical education were analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 1,021 results, 50 of which were included on abstract and received a quality assessment and full text review. Of these, 43 were included in our final analysis. Results demonstrated the worldwide presence of eConsult services in North America and countries beyond, including Brazil, Australia, Spain, and The Netherlands. The breadth of specialty services offered has greatly expanded beyond dermatology and includes cardiology, nephrology, and hematology among others. Overall impact on access measures, acceptability, cost, and provider satisfaction remain positive. There is limited research on population health outcomes of morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of eConsult services has spread both geographically and in terms of specialty services offered. By allowing for a greater population to be served, access to care is being improved; however, long-term impact should continue to be assessed with a focus on patient safety, morbidity, mortality, and cost effectiveness metrics.

Efficiency of HIV services in Nigeria: Determinants of unit cost variation of HIV counseling and testing and prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions.

BACKGROUND: Like most countries with a substantial HIV burden, Nigeria continues to face challenges in reaching coverage targets of HIV services. A fundamental problem is stagnated funding in recent years. Improving efficiency is therefore paramount to effectively scale-up HIV services. In this study, we estimated the facility-level average costs (or unit costs) of HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services and characterized determinants of unit cost variation. We investigated the role of service delivery modalities and the link between facility-level management practices and unit cost variability along both services' cascades. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, micro-costing study in Nigeria between December 2014 and May 2015 in 141 HCT, and 137 PMTCT facilities, respectively. We retrospectively collected relevant input quantities (personnel, supplies, utilities, capital, and training), input prices, and output data for the year 2013. Staff costs were adjusted using time-motion methods. We estimated the facility-level average cost per service along the HCT and PMTCT service cascades and analyzed their composition and variability. Through linear regressions analysis, we identified aspects of service delivery and management practices associated with unit costs variations. RESULTS: The weighted average cost per HIV-positive client diagnosed through HCT services was US$130. The weighted average cost per HIV-positive woman on prophylaxis in PMTCT services was US$858. These weighted values are estimates of nationally representative unit costs in Nigeria. For HCT, the facility-level unit costs per client tested and per HIV-positive client diagnosed were US$30 and US$1,364, respectively; and the median unit costs were US$17 and US$245 respectively. For PMTCT, the facility-level unit costs per woman tested, per HIV-positive woman diagnosed, and per HIV-positive woman on prophylaxis were US$46, US$2,932, and US$3,647, respectively, and the median unit costs were US$24, US$1,013 and US$1,448, respectively. Variability in costs across facilities was principally explained by the number of patients, integration of HIV services, task shifting, and the level of care. DISCUSSION: Our findings demonstrate variability in unit costs across facilities. We found evidence consistent with economies of scale and scope, and efficiency gains in facilities implementing task-shifting. Our results could inform program design by suggesting ways to improve resource allocation and efficiently scale-up the HIV response in Nigeria. Some of our findings might also be relevant for other settings.

Has the quality of health care for the immigrant population changed during the economic crisis in Catalonia (Spain)? Opinions of health professionals and immigrant users.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse changes in health professionals' and immigrant users' perceptions of the quality of care provided to the immigrant population during the crisis. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive-interpretative and exploratory study was conducted in two areas of Catalonia. Semi-structured individual interviews were used with a theoretical sample of medical (n=24) and administrative (n=10) professionals in primary care (PC) and secondary care (SC), and immigrant users (n=20). Thematic analysis was conducted and the results were triangulated. RESULTS: Problems related to technical and interpersonal quality emerged from the discourse of both professionals and immigrants. These problems were attributed to cutbacks during the economic crisis. Regarding technical quality, respondents reported an increase in erroneous or non-specific diagnoses, inappropriate use of diagnostic tests and non-specific treatments, due to reduction in consultation times as a result of cuts in human resources. With regard to interpersonal quality, professionals reported less empathy, and users also reported worse communication, due to changes in professionals' working conditions and users' attitudes. Finally, a reduction in the resolution capacity of the health services emerged: professionals described unnecessary repeated PC visits and limited responses in SC, while young immigrants reported an insufficient response to their health problems. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a deterioration in perceived technical and interpersonal quality during the economic crisis, due to cutbacks mainly in human resources. These changes affect the whole population, but especially immigrants.

[Variation in hospital performance according to payment sources in the states of São Paulo and do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil]. / Variação do desempenho hospitalar segundo fontes de pagamento nos estados de São Paulo e Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

In Brazil, the combined presence of public and private interests in financing and provision of healthcare services stands out clearly in hospital care. Financing arrangements adopted by hospitals (the public Brazilian Unified National Health System - SUS and/or health plans and/or out-of-pocket payment) can affect quality of care. Studies have analyzed the hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR) in relation to quality improvements. The objective was to analyze HSMR according to source of payment for the hospitalization and the hospital's financing arrangement. The study analyzed secondary data and causes that accounted for 80% of hospital deaths. HSMR was calculated for each hospital and payment source. Hospitals with worse-than-expected performance (HSMR > 1) were mostly large public hospitals. HSMR was higher in the SUS, including between admissions in the hospital. Despite the study's limitations, the findings point to inequalities in results of care. Efforts are needed to improve the quality of hospital services, regardless of the payment sources.

Qualidade do cuidado em saúde e a iniciativa “Choosing Wisely” / Healthcare quality and “Choosing Wisely” initiative / /Calidad del cuidado en la salud y la iniciativa “Choosing Wisely”

A partir de uma campanha conduzida pela Fundação American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM),teve início em 2011 a Iniciativa Choosing Wisely, quando várias associações norte-americanas de distintas especialidades médicas apresentaram listas de procedimentos utilizados de maneira excessiva e, consequentemente, inapropriada. Neste artigo, buscou-se destacar as relações entre a qualidade do cuidado, a variação injustificada na oferta de procedimentos e as iniciativas para redução da sobreutilização desses procedimentos. Além de uma metodologia adequada, alguns critérios devem ser levados em conta para se avaliar se o uso de determinados procedimentos é, ou não, recomendável. Entre os principais,encontram-se: a transparência e a participação de um grupo mais amplo de profissionais, incluindo diversas especialidades; a seleção de procedimentos de modo a evitar os que têm utilidade cientificamente questionável no tocante à melhora da saúde, além de custos impactantes, desproporcionais aos possíveis benefícios, para os serviços de saúde; a possibilidade de medir e avaliar esses procedimentos; ausência de conflito de interesses ou corporativismos...

From a campaign driven by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation, the ChoosingWisely Initiative began in 2011 when several US societies from different medical specialties presented listsof procedures that are used excessively and therefore inappropriate. In this article we sought to highlightthe relationship between healthcare quality, unjustified variation in supply of low-value procedures and theinitiatives to reduce the overuse of those procedures. In addition to appropriate methodology, one shouldtake account of criteria to evaluate whether or not the use of given procedures is recommended. The mostimportant criteria are: the transparency and participation of a broader group of professionals, includingdifferent specialties; selection of procedures whose utility with regard to improving health is scientificallyquestionable and its costs to health services are excessive relative to benefits; the possibilty to measure andevaluate these procedures; the absence of any conflict of interest or corporatism...

A partir de una campaña llevada a cabo por la Fundación American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM),iniciada en 2011, la Iniciativa Choosing Wisely cuando distintas asociaciones norteamericanas dedistintas especialidades médicas presentaran listas de procedimientos utilizados de forma excessiva e, porconsiguiente, inapropriada. En este artículo hemos tratado de poner de relieve las relaciones entre la calidadde la atención, la variación injustificada en la oferta de los procedimientos y las iniciativas para reducir lasobreutilización de ellos. Además de una metodología adecuada, deben tenerse en cuenta ciertos criteriospara evaluar si es recomendado el uso de ciertos procedimientos. Entre los principales, están: la transparenciay la participación de un grupo más amplio de profesionales, incluyendo diversas especialidades; la selecciónde procedimientos con el fin de evitar aquellos que tienen utilidad científicamente cuestionable con relacióna la mejora de la salud, y los costes desproporcionados a los beneficios potenciales, impactantes para losservicios de salud; la posibilidad de mensurar y evaluar estos procedimentos; ausencia de conflicto deintereses o corporativismos...

Variação do desempenho hospitalar segundo fontes de pagamento nos estados de São Paulo e Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Variation in hospital performance according to payment sources in the states of São Paulo and do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil / Variación del desempeño hospitalario según fuentes de pago en los estados de São Paulo y de Río Grande do Sul, Brasil

Resumo: No Brasil, a convivência público-privado no financiamento e na prestação do cuidado ganha nítidos contornos na assistência hospitalar. Os arranjos de financiamento adotados pelos hospitais (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS e/ou planos de saúde e/ou pagamento particular) podem afetar a qualidade do cuidado. Alguns estudos buscam associar a razão de mortalidade hospitalar padronizada (RMHP) a melhorias na qualidade. O objetivo foi analisar a RMHP segundo fonte de pagamento da internação e arranjo de financiamento do hospital. Analisaram-se dados secundários e causas responsáveis por 80% dos óbitos hospitalares. A RMHP foi calculada para cada hospital e fonte de pagamento. Hospitais com desempenho pior que o esperado (RMHP > 1) foram majoritariamente públicos de maior porte. A RMHP nas internações SUS foi superior, inclusive entre internações no mesmo hospital. Apesar dos limites, os achados indicam iniquidades no resultado do cuidado. Esforços voltados para a melhoria da qualidade de serviços hospitalares, independentemente das fontes de pagamento, são prementes.

Abstract: In Brazil, the combined presence of public and private interests in financing and provision of healthcare services stands out clearly in hospital care. Financing arrangements adopted by hospitals (the public Brazilian Unified National Health System - SUS and/or health plans and/or out-of-pocket payment) can affect quality of care. Studies have analyzed the hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR) in relation to quality improvements. The objective was to analyze HSMR according to source of payment for the hospitalization and the hospital's financing arrangement. The study analyzed secondary data and causes that accounted for 80% of hospital deaths. HSMR was calculated for each hospital and payment source. Hospitals with worse-than-expected performance (HSMR > 1) were mostly large public hospitals. HSMR was higher in the SUS, including between admissions in the hospital. Despite the study's limitations, the findings point to inequalities in results of care. Efforts are needed to improve the quality of hospital services, regardless of the payment sources.

Resumen: En Brasil, la convivencia público-privada en la financiación y en la prestación del cuidado empieza a definirse nítidamente en la asistencia hospitalaria. Los acuerdos de financiación adoptados por los hospitales (Sistema Único de Salud - SUS y/o planes de salud y/o pago particular) pueden afectar a la calidad del cuidado. Algunos estudios buscan asociar la razón de mortalidad hospitalaria padronizada (RMHP) a mejorías en la calidad. El objetivo fue analizar la RMHP según la fuente de pago del internamiento y acuerdos de financiación del hospital. Se analizaron datos secundarios y causas responsables de un 80% de los óbitos hospitalarios. La RMHP se calculó para cada hospital y fuente de pago. Los hospitales con un desempeño peor que el esperado (RMHP > 1) fueron mayoritariamente públicos y con un mayor número de pacientes. La RMHP en los internamientos SUS fue superior, incluyendo internamientos en el mismo hospital. A pesar de los límites, los hallazgos indican inequidades en el resultado del cuidado. Son necesarios esfuerzos dirigidos a la mejoría de la calidad de servicios hospitalarios, independientemente de las fuentes de pago de los mismos.

Does ownership matter? An overview of systematic reviews of the performance of private for-profit, private not-for-profit and public healthcare providers.

INTRODUCTION: Ownership of healthcare providers has been considered as one factor that might influence their health and healthcare related performance. The aim of this article was to provide an overview of what is known about the effects on economic, administrative and health related outcomes of different types of ownership of healthcare providers--namely public, private non-for-profit (PNFP) and private for-profit (PFP)--based on the findings of systematic reviews (SR). METHODS AND FINDINGS: An overview of systematic reviews was performed. Different databases were searched in order to select SRs according to an explicit comprehensive criterion. Included SRs were assessed to determine their methodological quality. Of the 5918 references reviewed, fifteen SR were included, but six of them were rated as having major limitations, so they weren't incorporated in the analyses. According to the nine analyzed SR, ownership does seem to have an effect on health and healthcare related outcomes. In the comparison of PFP and PNFP providers, significant differences in terms of mortality of patients and payments to facilities have been found, both being higher in PFP facilities. In terms of quality and economic indicators such as efficiency, there are no concluding results. When comparing PNFP and public providers, as well as for PFP and public providers, no clear differences were found. CONCLUSION: PFP providers seem to have worst results than their PNFP counterparts, but there are still important evidence gaps in the literature that needs to be covered, including the comparison between public and both PFP and PNFP providers. More research is needed in low and middle income countries to understand the impact on and development of healthcare delivery systems.

Implementing incentivized practice to improve patient care in developing countries.

INTRODUCTION: Faculty awards provide an incentive to encourage higher standards of personal performance, which closely reflects the quality of health care. We report the development and implementation of the first medical faculty award program in the region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anonymous preaward survey evaluated responses to understand the overall state of our institution. Five awards were celebrated. An anonymous postaward survey gathered responses to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. RESULTS: A total of 60% (307/509) of preaward survey responses were collected. Among those, 92% (283/307) felt that employee recognition was important and 78% (240/307) felt that performance should be the deciding criteria for employee recognition. A 24% (20/85) of the faculty received the decade of excellence award and 13% (11/85) received the compassionate physician award. Best service award was granted to 7% (6/85) of the nominees. Postaward survey showed 68% (170/250) agreed that the award ceremony incentivized them to increase quality of personal performance. CONCLUSION: In summary, we feel that this transparent, objective, and peer-nominated awards program could serve as an incentivized model for health care providers to elevate the standards of personal performance, which in turn will benefit the advancement of patient care.

The payment for performance model and its influence on British general practitioners' principles and practice.

This article explores some effects of the British payment for performance model on general practitioners' principles and practice, which may contribute to issues related to financial incentive modalities and quality of primary healthcare services in low and middle-income countries. Aiming to investigate what general practitioners have to say about the effect of the British payment for performance on their professional ethos we carried out semi-structured interviews with 13 general practitioner educators and leaders working in academic medicine across the UK. The results show a shift towards a more biomedical practice model and fragmented care with nurse practitioners and other health care staff focused more on specific disease conditions. There has also been an increased medicalisation of the patient experience both through labelling and the tendency to prescribe medications rather than non-pharmacological interventions. Thus, the British payment for performance has gradually strengthened a scientific-bureaucratic model of medical practice which has had profound effects on the way family medicine is practiced in the UK.

Pay for performance for salaried health care providers: methodology, challenges, and pitfalls.

Pay for performance has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine as an incentive to improve the quality of health care. Traditional quality-improvement methods may be adapted to evaluate performance of salaried providers, but it is important to separate provider contributions from other influencing factors within the health care system. Accurate recording, extraction, and analysis of data together with careful selection and measurement of indicators of performance are crucial for meaningful assessment. If appropriate methodology is not used, much time, effort, and money may be expended gathering data that may be potentially misleading or even useless, with the possibility that good performance may go unrecognized and mediocre performance rewarded.

Is there a business case for magnet hospitals? Estimates of the cost and revenue implications of becoming a magnet.

BACKGROUND: Although Magnet hospitals (MHs) are known for their better nursing care environments, little is known about whether MHs achieve this at a higher (lower) cost of health care or whether a superior nursing environment yields higher net patient revenue versus non-MHs over an extended period of time. OBJECTIVE: To examine how achieving Magnet status is related to subsequent inpatient costs and revenues controlling for other hospital characteristics. DATA AND METHODS: Data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, Hospital Cost Reporting Information System reports collected by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Magnet status of hospitals from American Nurses Credentialing Center from 1998 to 2006 were combined and used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics, propensity score matching, fixed-effect, and instrumental variable methods were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that MH status is positively and significantly associated with both inpatient costs and net inpatient revenues for both urban hospitals and all hospitals. MH status was associated with an increase of 2.46% in the inpatient costs and 3.89% in net inpatient revenue for all hospitals, and 2.1% and 3.2% for urban hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is costly for hospitals to attain Magnet status, the cost of becoming a MH may be offset by higher net inpatient income. On average, MHs receive an adjusted net increase in inpatient income of $104.22-$127.05 per discharge after becoming a Magnet which translates to an additional $1,229,770-$1,263,926 in income per year.

The payment for performance model and its influence on British general practitioners' principles and practice / O modelo de pagamento por desempenho e sua influencia nos principios e pratica dos medicos generalistas britanicos / El modelo de pago por desempeno y su influencia en los principios y practica de los medicos generales britanicos

This article explores some effects of the British payment for performance model on general practitioners’ principles and practice, which may contribute to issues related to financial incentive modalities and quality of primary healthcare services in low and middle-income countries. Aiming to investigate what general practitioners have to say about the effect of the British payment for performance on their professional ethos we carried out semi-structured interviews with 13 general practitioner educators and leaders working in academic medicine across the UK. The results show a shift towards a more biomedical practice model and fragmented care with nurse practitioners and other health care staff focused more on specific disease conditions. There has also been an increased medicalisation of the patient experience both through labelling and the tendency to prescribe medications rather than non-pharmacological interventions. Thus, the British payment for performance has gradually strengthened a scientific-bureaucratic model of medical practice which has had profound effects on the way family medicine is practiced in the UK.

Este artigo explora alguns efeitos do modelo de pagamento por desempenho nos princípios e prática dos médicos generalistas britânicos, podendo contribuir para o debate sobre a relação entre modalidades de incentivos financeiros e qualidade dos serviços na atenção primária à saúde em países de moderada e baixa renda. Objetivando investigar o que os médicos generalistas têm a dizer dos efeitos do pagamento por desempenho britânico sobre seu ethos profissional, conduzimos entrevistas semiestruturadas com 13 médicos generalistas, educadores e líderes no meio acadêmico da medicina no Reino Unido. Os resultados apontam um modelo de prática mais biomédica e fragmentação do cuidado, com enfermeiras e outros profissionais mais focados em doenças específicas. Houve também um aumento da medicalização da vivência dos pacientes, pela rotulação e tendência a prescrever mais medicação e menor uso de intervenções não farmacológicas. Assim, o pagamento por desempenho britânico tem gradualmente fortalecido um modelo científico-burocrático de prática médica que teve efeitos profundos sobre a forma como a medicina de família vem sendo praticada no Reino Unido.

Este artículo explora algunos efectos del modelo británico de pago por desempeño en los principios y práctica de médicos generales que pueden contribuir a cuestiones relacionadas con modalidades de incentivos financieros y calidad de servicios de atención primaria en países de bajos y medios ingresos. La investigación tuvo por objetivo lo que los médicos tienden a decir sobre el efecto del pago por desempeño británico en su ethos profesional; se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas con 13 médicos generales, educadores y líderes en medicina académica del Reino Unido. Los resultados muestran cambios hacia un modelo de práctica más biomédica y atención fragmentada con enfermeras y otros profesionales enfocados en enfermedades específicas. También produjo un aumento en medicalización de la experiencia del paciente a través de rotulaciones y tendencia a prescribir medicamentos en lugar de intervenciones no farmacológicas. Así, el pago por desempeño británico ha reforzado gradualmente un modelo científico-burocrático de práctica que ha tenido profundos efectos en la forma en la que la medicina familiar está siendo practicada en el Reino Unido.

Plan-provider integration, premiums, and quality in the Medicare Advantage market.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how integration between Medicare Advantage plans and health care providers is related to plan premiums and quality ratings. DATA SOURCE: We used public data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Area Resource File and private data from one large insurer. Premiums and quality ratings are from 2009 CMS administrative files and some control variables are historical. STUDY DESIGN: We estimated ordinary least-squares models for premiums and plan quality ratings, with state fixed effects and firm random effects. The key independent variable was an indicator of plan-provider integration. DATA COLLECTION: With the exception of Medigap premium data, all data were publicly available. We ascertained plan-provider integration through examination of plans' websites and governance documents. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found that integrated plan-providers charge higher premiums, controlling for quality. Such plans also have higher quality ratings. We found no evidence that integration is associated with more generous benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Current policy encourages plan-provider integration, although potential effects on health insurance products and markets are uncertain. Policy makers and regulators may want to closely monitor changes in premiums and quality after integration and consider whether quality improvement (if any) justifies premium increases (if they occur).