Does the frequency of pay-for-performance payment matter?--Experience from a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of incentive payment frequency on quality measures in a physician-specific pay-for-performance (P4P) experiment.


METHODS
A multispecialty physician group practice.


METHODS
In 2007, all primary care physicians (n=179) were randomized into two study arms differing by the frequency of incentive payment, either four quarterly bonus checks or a single year-end bonus (maximum of U.S.$5,000/year for both arms).


METHODS
Data were extracted from electronic health records. Quality measure scores between the two arms over four quarters were compared.


RESULTS
There was no difference between the two arms in average quality measure score or in total bonus amount earned.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians' responses to a P4P program with a small maximum bonus do not differ by frequency of bonus payment.
Chung
Sukyung
S
Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA. chungs@pamfri.org
Palaniappan
Latha
L
Wong
Eric
E
Rubin
Haya
H
Luft
Harold
H
D002140:California; D006123:Group Practice; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008511:Medicine; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive