Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom
Health Freedom Minute September 9, 2011
The P4P Surprise in Hospitals Welcome to the Health Freedom Minute. This is Twila Brase, president of Citizensʼ Council for Health Freedom. There is good news with an interesting twist. Patients with heart attacks are treated rapidly in most hospitals, according to a new study. This is remarkable according to news reports, because this achievement happened without financial performance rewards or threats of punishment. Instead research was done and information was shared with doctors and hospitals. This should be no surprise. A 2010 study found no evidence that paying or penalizing doctors according to performance statistics resulted in major improvements in quality of care. A 1993 book called “Punished by Rewards” said bonuses can actually diminish the intrinsic desire to do good. So why are government and insurers rushing to pay bonuses and impose penalties? And will your care will suffer as a result? Listen again at healthfreedomminute.net. “Hospitals meet goal of treating coronary patients in 90 minutes,” Marilynn Marchione, Star Tribune, August 23, 2011. “Pay-For-Performance in Healthcare,” Medical News Today, February 10, 2010.
The Health Freedom Minute is heard on 144 stations in 37 states, including afternoons on American Family Radio.
CCHF ● 1954 University Ave. W. ● Suite 8 ● St. Paul, MN 55104 ● 651-646-8935 ● www.cchfreedom.org CCHF supports patient and doctor freedom, medical innovation, and the right of citizens to a confidential patient-doctor relationship.
