Healthcare Reimbursement and Quality Improvement: Integration Using the Electronic Medical Record; Comment on “Fee-for-service Payment - an Evil Practice That Must Be Stamped Out?”

Document Type : Commentary

Author

Colorado Permanente Medical Group, Denver, CO, USA

Abstract

Reimbursement for healthcare has utilized a variety of payment mechanisms with varying degrees of effectiveness. Whether these mechanisms are used singly or in combination, it is imperative that the resulting systems remunerate on the basis of the quantity, complexity, and quality of care provided. Expanding the role of the electronic medical record (EMR) to monitor provider practice, patient responsiveness, and functioning of the healthcare organization has the potential to not only enhance the accuracy and efficiency of reimbursement mechanisms but also to improve the quality of medical care.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Flodgren G, Eccles MP, Shepperd S, Scott A, Parmelli E, Beyer FR. An overview of reviews evaluating the effectiveness of financial incentives in changing healthcare professional behaviors and patient outcomes.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;7:CD009255. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd009255
  2. Ikegami N. Fee-for-service payment-an evil practice that must be stamped out? Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4:57-9. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.26
  3. Ben-Assuli O. Electronic health records, adoption, quality of care, legal and privacy issues and their implementation in emergency departments. Health Policy. 2015;119:287-297.
  4. Clynch N, Kellett J. Medical documentation: Part of the solution, or part of the problem? A narrative review of the literature on the time spent on and value of medical documentation. Int J Med Informatics. 2015;84:221-228.
  5. Van Doornik W. Meaningful use of patient-generated data in EHRs. Journal of AHIMA. 2013;84:30-35.
  6. Koppel R, Lehmann CU. Implications of an emerging HER monoculture for hospitals and healthcare systems. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2014;22:465-471. doi:10.1136/amiajnl-2014-003023
  7. Moja L, Kwag KH, Lytras T, Bertizzolo L, Brandt L, Pecoraro V, et al. Effectiveness of computerized decision support systems linked to electronic health records: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. 2014;104:e12-22.