Los Angeles– L.A. Care Health Plan announced today that it awarded $26.8 million in performance-based incentives to its more than 16,000 network doctors, hospitals, clinics, physician groups and health plan partners, all of which are located in Los Angeles County. The incentives were awarded during the organization’s recently completed fiscal year, ending September 30, 2008.
More than $14 million in performance-based incentives went to individual physicians and physician groups who conducted timely health assessments and check-ups for L.A. Care members, who are largely enrolled in Medi-Cal. Another $2.1 million in incentives was awarded to Los Angeles County hospitals that publicly reported on certain quality data measures.
“Many California health plans have statewide incentive programs of similar size,” said Howard A. Kahn, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan. “What makes ours unique is that it is for Los Angeles County doctors, hospitals and health plans who serve the most vulnerable County residents.”
L.A. Care’s performance-based incentives cover a range of areas, including well-child check-ups, childhood immunizations, asthma disease management, and quality data reporting.
“We provide a comprehensive approach by incentivizing every level of the health care delivery system, from doctors to hospitals to physician groups,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, Chief Medical Officer at L.A. Care Health Plan.
The incentives are designed to improve quality of medical care, physician satisfaction, and clinical data reporting to the health plan.
“With some of the lowest Medicaid payment rates in the nation, our incentives program is also designed to keep doctors and specialists from leaving the Medi-Cal network,” added Kahn. (Medicaid is called Medi-Cal in California.)
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