Pay-for-performance demo looking good

The Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration project, the pay-for-performance pilot being sponsored by CMS, looks like it is a success so far with participating hospitals showing quality improvements almost across the board. Quality data collected over the last year shows that hospitals involved in the test have improved their collective performance score by 7.5 percent. Marked improvements were seen particularly in the quality of care delivered for heart failure patients and pneumonia patients. Over the course of the three-year demonstration project, hospitals which perform well will be eligible for bonuses from a $21 million pool established by CMS. Those which perform poorly may face fines. Details on poor performers were not disclosed.

For more on the project:
- see this press release from Premier

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