CMS says doctors earned $16.7M on P4P demo

You've gotta love it when CMS gives out money above and beyond the usual reimbursement rates--and it's even better when the bonuses involved work out for pretty much everyone involved. That's the cheery outcome for the second year of CMS's pay-for-performance demonstration project, under which 10 physician groups earned a total of $16.7 million in incentive payments. Under the terms of the demonstration project, which addresses the quality of care for heart patients and diabetics, physician groups were asked not only to improve outcomes for Medicare patients, but also to coordinate their care.

The groups involved were strikingly successful at meeting CMS's goals. All of the groups involved in the Physician Group Practice Demonstration met performance goals on at least 25 of 27 quality markers for patients with diabetes, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Five of the groups, including Forsyth Medical Group, Geisinger Clinic, Marshfield Clinic, St. John's Health System and the University of Michigan Faculty Group Practice--achieved all 27 performance goals.

To learn more about the P4P payouts:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)

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