Dr. Martin Wasserman, executive director of MedChi, the state's largest organization of physicians, said Maryland's doctors welcome the program in principle.
"We very strongly believe in quality, and this is where we should be going as a profession," he said. He praised CareFirst for using "evidence-based measures from physician-oriented groups."
On the other hand, Wasserman said, he was concerned that the emphasis on "better care, not more care," implies, dangerously, "if you provide more care, it's not good."
Ben Regalado, practice manager for Anesthesia Company, a 35-doctor practice based in Annapolis, said the success of the program will depend on the details of administration and on physician and practice manager involvement as it's rolled out and refined.
"It's a good start," Regalado said. "The physicians have to feel like they're helping to drive this program."
Participation in CareFirst's program is voluntary, but all doctors participating in CareFirst's network are eligible. Primary care doctors and internal medicine specialists can begin submitting data this year for higher pay next year. More specialties will be added next year, with the prospect of bonus payments in 2010.
CareFirst consulted advisory groups of doctors in developing the plan and will begin explaining it to all eligible doctors next month.
bill.salganik@baltsun.com
How the program works
Who is eligible:
In the first phase, 11,100 doctors in family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology and oncology, infectious disease, nephrology, pulmonology and rheumatology. They would submit data by July 31 for potential bonus payments in 2009. In the second phase, 8,000 doctors in other specialties would submit data next year for payments in 2010.
How they earn points:
Doctors earn points toward their quality bonus in a variety of ways: Following recommended screening and preventative measures, giving recommended treatments and advice and achieving desired outcomes, participating in professional certification and accreditation processes and service, such as offering extended office hours.
How much they get paid:
Doctors can get a bump of 7 percent on standard fees for 80 or more points; 4 percent for 61 to 80 points; and 1 percent for 40 to 60 points. [Source: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield]
