Bridges to Excellence incentives promote healthcare improvements
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield commits $3.6 million over three years to encourage quality health practices among pilot physician groups.
The Situation
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that $17 billion to $29 billion is unnecessarily spent each year as a result of shortcomings throughout the U.S. health care system. Systematic problems lead to preventable deaths, poor health status and outcomes, and treatment delays. As part of CareFirst Commitment, CareFirst is instituting the Bridges to Excellence program to reward physicians for taking specific steps to improve the quality of care they provide.
The Program
Bridges to Excellence is a national pay-for-performance initiative conceived by a group of employers, physicians, health plans, and patients. The pilot program includes 20 primary care physician practices serving 50,000 CareFirst members. The physicians have been certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance to participate in the program.
By implementing specific steps to deliver safe, high quality care, Bridges to Excellence participants can earn rewards of up to $50 per patient per year. Individual physicians can earn up to $20,000 in the first year, and $50,000 over three years. The maximum annual award for any single practice site is $100,000. CareFirst also reimburses physicians for the costs associated with NCQA certification.
"Bridges to Excellence is where obligation and opportunity meet," said CareFirst President and CEO William L. Jews. "Every health plan has an obligation to deliver the best possible care and service. Through BTE, we have the opportunity meet that obligation in a way that benefits both our patients and our physicians."
More about Bridges of Excellence
