Question

Government Incentive Programs

There are other programs offered by the government that look to incentivize healthcare providers through demonstrating the delivery of quality healthcare and a commitment to quality patient outcomes. To encourage participation, incentives programs which, support quality outcomes, have been established.

Instructions:

• Identify and describe the four incentive programs used to encourage providers to meet quality healthcare expectations.
• Which incentive program do you feel offers the most value in terms of monetary and quality return. Support your selection with examples.

Answer 1

INCENTIVES are designed to motivate and encourage people to perform well and improve their outcomes. They may be monetary or non-monetary incentives and may be applied to consumers, providers or institutions.       #PAY FOR PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: In terms of hospital-based patient utilization outcomes, researchers found that pay for performance programs were connected to improvements in hospital readmissions outcomes. In addition to this, researchers also found out that pay-for-performance interventions boosted process of care performances. To improve the quality performance of the providers, researches suggested that developers focus on increasing provider buy-in and aligning measures with organizational goals. Moreover, rather than measures of efficiency improving on clinical processes and patient outcomes were more likely to be effective. Also, more effective interventions caters opportunity for improvement. To improve on outcomes, the program leaders should continuously evaluate , measure effectiveness and should eliminate measures after sustained care advancements. #PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS: Pay-for-performance programmes are also designed to measure the providers performance in meeting pre-published targets for delivery of outcomes in health care system. Research have shown that, several health care systems have modest improvements in outcomes and increased efficiency but no monetary savings due to administrative requirements. A similar system was designed to doctors and was based on outpatient performance on medical conditions. In this newly designed program, high performers will be rewarded with an annual bonus asa percentage of their reimbursement program. #PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE IN HEALTH CARE CLIENTS: This program on several health indicators showed mearked improvements in families with low income or poverty levels, decrease in child mortality and improvements in maternal health. This program shows a positive impact on health care outcomes and also these projects were so successful that the number of families wishing to participate increased dramatically after an year of these programmes. #PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE OUTSIDE THE HEALTH SECTOR: Employees from outside health sector(national and international)are rewarded based on objectives and performance outcomes. Other practices such as health enhancing programmes like exercise, dieting, smoking cessation, alcohol and drug abuse awareness programmes rewards discounts for their participation as monetary incentives. MOST VALUED INCENTIVE PROGRAM: PARTICIPATION-BASED HEALTH ACRE INCENTIVES: 1. It has no limits on how much incentives can vary on health care costs. 2. It problematic for workers who face personal barriers to participation. 3. The workers personal barriers then affects the low-income workers. 4. No explicit HIPAA right to an alternative standard from participation requirements. For instance: In case of employees attaining a specific health outcome such as not smoking, the wellness incentive plans used to motivate employees to improve their health and to adopt a healthy behaviors by reducind a health care costs.