Fifty-two upstate New York hospitals last year earned more than $19 million in quality improvement incentive payments from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as part of the health insurer’s Hospital Performance Incentive Program (HPIP).
In the past two years quality performance incentives from Excellus BCBS have exceeded $40 million.
Six hospitals in the Southern Tier Region participated in this program in 2010, including Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, St. James Mercy Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and United Health Services Hospitals (2 hospitals).
Four areas are targeted for improvement:
Clinical Outcomes – Focused on improvements in heart attack care, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care
Patient Safety – Focused on reductions in hospital-acquired infections, improved medication reconciliation processes, and National Quality Forum Safe Practices
Patient Perception of Care and Patient Satisfaction – Focused on a hospital’s use of a national survey tool
Efficiency – Focused on generics utilization, length of stay, and readmissions
