HealthPartners announces performance bonuses for providers
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. December 22, 2009 -- HealthPartners today announced that primary and specialty care groups earned nearly $370,000 for meeting quality measures on care and patient satisfaction. The bonuses are part of the pay-for-performance program which will pay out a total of $24.9 million for goals met in 2008. That's a significant increase from last year, when the program paid out more than $21 million for goals met in 2007.
The bonuses recognize excellent and superior care for primary care (large and small groups) and pediatric care, as well as several specialty areas: cardiology, OB/GYN, physical therapy, behavioral health and ENT. Pharmacies were also rated, for monitoring of persistent medications, managing high-risk medications and generic utilization.
"Patients are the real winners when providers meet these goals, because it means they're getting better care," said Babette Apland, HealthPartners senior vice president for health and care management. She also noted that improved care for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and depression reduce expenses by as much as $5 for every $1 invested.
HealthPartners Partners in Quality program was introduced in 1997. It rewards providers in practices throughout Minnesota and bordering states. The measures are based on guidelines developed by the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement which represents more than 7,500 physicians in Minnesota.
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners family of health care companies serves more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community.