Cost to Primary Care Practices of Responding to Payer Requests for Quality and Performance Data
Ann Fam Med Halladay et al.
7: 495
The Article in Brief
Cost to Primary Care Practices of Responding to Payer Requests for Quality and Performance Data
Jacqueline R. Halladay
, and colleagues
Background Primary care practices are increasingly required to participate in quality improvement (QI) programs. This study set out to determine the cost to practices of participation in programs requiring them to gather and report data on care quality indicators.
What This Study Found Responding to payer requests for quality and performance data can be costly for primary care practices, with estimated costs of implementation ranging from less than $1,000 to $11,100 per practitioner, and maintenance from less than $100 to $4,300 per year. Researchers found substantial variation among the four reporting programs studied in the way measurement data elements are defined, gathered, and transmitted. Major expenses included personnel time for planning, training, registry maintenance, visit coding, data-gathering, and entry.
Implications
- The authors recommend that quality improvement programs choose their performance measures judiciously.
- QI programs should consider offering financial incentives that allow practices to at least recoup their costs, as well as other motivators such as computer skills training, assistance with electronic system challenges, and quality improvement training for staff.
