Physicians, Insurance Companies and Incentives
Incentives motivate everyone.
When someone rewards us for something, we tend to do more of it. Carrots really work.
Insurance giant WellPoint is taking the idea to heart. According to an article in today’s Wall Street Journal, the company will soon start offering oncologists $350 a month for every patient on one of the insurer’s recommended regiments.
This is real money for a physician. The WSJ article quotes a doctor from the Cleveland Clinic saying the payment “…is not something we’d ignore.”
I suspect WellPoint isn’t doing this just to help patients; the company is trying to save money.
It is safe to assume that WellPoint’s regiments won’t include aggressive use of the most expensive therapies. The company will likely encourage physicians to stick with effective and inexpensive drugs.
This sets up a conflict between an oncologist and her patients. Does the oncologist use a therapy with modest efficacy that complies with WellPoint’s guidelines and preserves the $350 per month payment? Or should she try a newer therapy that might work better and take the financial hit?
Incentives in healthcare are complicated.
When making a treatment decision, remember that insurance companies and physicians are motivated by many incentives and the only people 100% committed to your health are you and your loved ones.
re: Wellpoint — I’d be interested to know if payment is in any way linked to results or even compliance, rather than just prescribing the program.