Working with an outside information technology vendor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has begun a program designed to identify patients whose care isn't meeting clinical guidelines. The vendor, MDdatacor, will analyze data from EMRs, transcribed office notes, lab results, and cross-reference that with the plan's pharmacy and claims data. BCBS plans to use the analysis as part of its pay-for-performance program. BCBS will begin by offering the tools to a subset of its physicians, and will test this approach with them for about one year. This approach makes sense--given that physicians could face big expenses in implementing P4P, why not help them get rolling?

To find out more about the BCBS program:
- read this United Press International piece [1]
- read the MDdatacor release [2]

Related Articles:
Dr. Michael Belman, medical director of Blue Cross of California, discusses the plan's pay for performance program. Interview [3]
HMO pay for performance plans common. Report [4]
PA insurer initiates P4P program. Article [5]
Will P4P discourage doctors from treating sicker patients? Editorial [6]