A recent study published in Health Affairs found pay-for-performance (P4P) programs have little to no impact on quality of healthcare. The study compared 81 physician groups taking part in the program with 73 that were not part of P4P. While the program improved greatly on preventive care measures such as diabetes hemoglobin a1c testing, breast cancer screening and well-child visits, the performance of over 5,000 physicians was stagnant.

The pay-for-performance program is centered around the thought that rewarding evidence-based care is key to improving healthcare quality. P4P pays eligible physicians for providing guideline-based care to their patients in an effort to improve the quality of care patients receive.

This article originally appeared in the August 2008 issue of AAKP Public Policy Briefing.