Blue Cross of California awards $69 million in P4P programs
Healthcare insurance provider Blue Cross of California reported that it is awarding more than $69 million in bonuses to physician groups and independent physician associations (IPAs) in California linked to performance. The firm, a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based WellPoint, said that 176 groups throughout the state participated in its pay-for-performance (P4P) program, which rewards providers for the quality of their healthcare services, including clinical care, patient experience and use of information technology, based on criteria developed by the Integrated Healthcare Association.

Blue Cross said the bonus incentives were the largest ever paid out in California as part of its Quality Scorecard program.

The quality measures include patient satisfaction surveys, clinical measures, waiting times for appointments, number of complaints and grievances, and review of medical group or IPA functions, Blue Cross said. Performance in managing chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes and adherence to screening guidelines for breast and cervical cancer were some of the clinical measures tracked.

Earlier this month, Blue Shield of California reported awarding more than $31 million as part of its P4P program.
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