The perceived financial impact of quality improvement efforts in community health centers

J Ambul Care Manage. 2008 Apr-Jun;31(2):111-9. doi: 10.1097/01.JAC.0000314701.50042.0b.

Abstract

We administered surveys to 100 chief executive officers (CEOs) of community health centers to determine their perceptions of the financial impact of the Health Disparities Collaboratives, a national quality improvement initiative. One third of the CEOs believed that the HDC had a negative financial impact on their health center, and this perception was significantly correlated with centers having a higher proportion of uninsured patients. Performance-based payment incentives may improve care but may also add new financial burdens to facilities that treat the uninsured population. As such, a provider's payer mix may need to be considered in the design of QI programs if they are to be sustainable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Community Health Centers / economics*
  • Community Health Centers / standards
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Facility Administrators / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Health Care / economics*