title: Pay-for-performance and public reporting program participation and administrative challenges among small- and medium-sized physician practices.
abstract: A key component of efforts to improve the quality of care in the United States is the use of public reporting and pay-for-performance programs. Little is known, however, about the extent to which small- and medium-sized physician practices are participating in these programs. This study examined the participation of small- and medium-sized physician practices in pay-for-performance and public reporting programs and the characteristics of the participating practices. Using cross-sectional data from a national sample of 1,734 small- and medium-sized physician practices throughout the United States, we found that many practices (61.2%) were participating in at least one program, while far fewer (19.2%) were participating in multiple programs. Among practices participating in multiple programs, relatively few (21.9%) reported high levels of administrative problems due to a lack of standardization on performance measures. The study also suggests that some structural features are associated with participation and may provide leverage points for fostering participation.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Larry R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hearld
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Lawrence P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Casalino
mesh_terms: D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D020399:Practice Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: administrative challenges; pay-for-performance; physician practices; public reporting