| HMSA Pays Physicians And Hospitals Nearly $21 Million In Quality Incentives
The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) said
it
invested $20.7 million this year in incentive programs to improve the
quality of the state’s healthcare system.
Hospitals received $6.2 million, HMO health
centers
received $4.6 million, and physicians and practitioners received $9.9
million in awards for quality, efficiency and patient safety, HMSA
said.
The annual awards are above and beyond the regular
reimbursements and fee adjustments healthcare providers receive from
HMSA.
HMSA’s Practitioner Quality and Service
Recognition (PQSR) program has been in place for 11 years, and the
number of physicians voluntarily participating has grown to 2,465 in
2008. The PQSR program evaluates physicians and issues awards to those
who maintain a high level of patient care and servicebased on best
practice guidelines, HMSA said.
Since 1998, HMSA has awarded $83.45 million to
Hawaii
physicians and practitioners for meeting PQSR program measures for
healthcare quality, patient safety, patient satisfaction and
efficiency.
HMSA has a similar pay-for-performance program for
Hawaii’s 17 hospitals. The Hospital Quality and Service
Recognition (HQSR) program recognizes facilities for delivering
efficient, quality care that focuses on patient safety and
physician/patient satisfaction. The HQSR program encourages the
delivery of high-quality, error-free care, and helps hospitals identify
opportunities for quality improvement, HMSA said.
Since 2001, HMSA has awarded $46.2 million to
Hawaii hospitals through the HQSR program.
HMSA also has a program for 23 HMO health centers.
Since
1998, the HMO Quality and Performance program has awarded $28.7 million
to health centers across the state.
Address: Hawaii Medical Services Association, 818
Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, HI 96814; (808) 948-6297, www.hmsa.com.
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