Integrated Healthcare Association Pays Out $65 Million in Bonuses
California medical groups' pay-for-performance bonus payments totaled $65 million for 2007, $10 million more than in 2006, according to the Integrated Healthcare Association, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
IHA bonuses reflect how a group performs relative to its peers, as well as its own notable improvements over previous years. The payments totaled on average about 2% of annual reimbursements to participating groups.
IHA is encouraging HMOs to put aside 20% of their 2008 performance bonuses for groups making similar performance improvements.
The 2007 payments were distributed to medical groups during last year's third and fourth quarters and reflected the 2006 performance of medical groups and individual practice associations that serve health maintenance organization members.
Participants in the pay-for-performance program last year included:
- Aetna;
- Blue Cross of California;
- Blue Shield of California;
- Cigna;
- Health Net;
- PacifiCare; and
- Western Health Advantage (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 2/27).