CMWF-Pay for Performance in Primary Care in England and California: Comparison of Unintended Consequences

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The Commonwealth Fund loooked at physicians in California and the United Kingdom that were already participating in pay-for-performance programs. The study found unitended consequences on other aspects of care or on physician motivation. These effects include:

  • Encouraging physicians to avoid sicker patients
  • Exacerbating disparities
  • Neglecting types of care for which quality is not measured

The authors conclude that the unintended consequences of pay-for-performance programs are dependant on the way in which these programs are designed and implemented.

Resource Details

Date: Apr 2011
Author: Ruth McDonald, Ph.D., and Martin Roland, D.M.