The Michigan surgical quality collaborative: will a statewide quality improvement initiative pay for itself?
OBJECTIVE
In this article, we detail a unique collaboration between hospitals in Michigan and a major third party payer, using a "pay for participation model." The payer has made a significant investment in this regional surgical quality improvement (QI) program and funds each center's participation.


RESULTS
Based on the documented costs and incidence of surgical complications at our center, we estimate that a 1.8% annual reduction in complication rates is required for the payer to recoup its investment in this regional QI program. If we achieve our goal of a 3% reduction in complications per year over the 3-year program, the payer will save $2.5 million in payments. Our findings suggest that only a very modest improvement in surgical results, of a magnitude that seems realistically achievable based on similar QI initiatives, is necessary to financially justify payer involvement in a statewide quality improvement initiative.


CONCLUSIONS
The framework of this program should be used by surgeons to attract private payers into QI collaboratives, facilitating improved patient outcomes and decreased health care expenditures.
Englesbe
Michael J
MJ
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Dimick
Justin B
JB
Sonnenday
Christopher J
CJ
Share
David A
DA
Campbell
Darrell A
DA
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*