title: Pioneering pay-for-quality: lessons from the rewarding results demonstrations.
abstract: This article reports six overarching lessons learned from seven pioneering initiatives in the pay-for-quality (P4Q) movement. These lessons relate to the specific design and implementation challenges sponsors of P4Q programs can expect. The lessons are: (1) P4Q can prioritize providers' quality goals, (2) provider engagement is difficult, (3) P4Q escalates concerns for data accuracy and validity, (4) P4Q increases the need for population-based information technology and infrastructure, (5) tradeoffs exist between stimulating investment in quality infrastructure and diluting the power of incentives for individuals, and (6) significant challenges exist in documenting a positive return on investment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118-2526, USA. health@bu.edu
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000592:standards*; D006302:Health Services Research; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010934:Planning Techniques; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D013221:State Health Plans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States