How Accountable Care Organizations Responded to Pediatric Incentives in the Alternative Quality Contract

Alyna T. Chien*, Katherine H. Schiavoni, Eli Sprecher, Bruce E. Landon, Barbara J. McNeil, Michael E. Chernew, Mark A. Schuster

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective From 2009 to 2010, 12 accountable care organizations (ACOs) entered into the alternative quality contract (AQC), BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts's global payment arrangement. The AQC included 6 outpatient pediatric quality measures among 64 total measures tied to pay-for-performance bonuses and incorporated pediatric populations in their global budgets. We characterized the pediatric infrastructure of these adult-oriented ACOs and obtained leaders' perspectives on their ACOs' response to pediatric incentives. Methods We used Massachusetts Health Quality Partners and American Hospital Association Survey data to characterize ACOs' pediatric infrastructure as extremely limited, basic, and substantial on the basis of the extent of pediatric primary care, outpatient specialist, and inpatient services. After ACOs had 16 to 43 months of experience with the AQC, we interviewed 22 leaders to gain insight into how organizations made changes to improve pediatric care quality, tried to reduce pediatric spending, and addressed care for children with special health care needs. Results ACOs' pediatric infrastructure ranged from extremely limited (eg, no general pediatricians in their primary care workforce) to substantial (eg, 42% of workforce was general pediatricians). Most leaders reported intensifying their pediatric quality improvement efforts and witnessing changes in quality metrics; most also investigated pediatric spending patterns but struggled to change patients' utilization patterns. All reported that the AQC did little to incentivize care for children with special health care needs and that future incentive programs should include this population. Conclusions Although ACOs involved in the AQC were adult-oriented, most augmented their pediatric quality improvement and spending reduction efforts when faced with pediatric incentives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)200-207
Number of pages8
JournalAcademic Pediatrics
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Agency for Healthcare Research and QualityK08HS017146
Charles H. Hood Foundation

    Keywords

    • accountable care organizations
    • payment incentives
    • pediatrics

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