The downside of performance-based physician incentives

As performance-based incentives catch on, it is inevitable that some doctors may be hesitant to treat the sickest patients, lest they negatively affect their “report card”:

Seventy-nine percent of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that, in certain instances, the publication of mortality statistics influenced their decision whether or not to perform angioplasty on specific patients. At the same time, 83 percent agreed or strongly agreed that individuals who might benefit from the procedure may not receive it because of this public reporting system.

This is especially true as the public is starting to demand some kind of “Consumer Reports” style comparison measures for medical care.