Survey: Many primary care physicians troubled by rising quality metrics, penalties

Half of the nation’s primary care physicians view increased use of quality metrics and financial penalties for unnecessary hospitalizations as potentially troubling for patient care, according to a survey released today by the Commonwealth Fund and Kaiser Family Foundation. About half of primary care physicians say the increased use of quality metrics to assess performance and financial penalties for unnecessary hospital admissions or readmissions are having a negative impact on quality of care. That compares with 22% and 12%, respectively, who say the impact is positive. With respect to other recent trends, half of physicians and nearly two-thirds of nurse practitioners and physician assistants view the increased use of health information technology as a positive for quality, far more than those with a negative view. Three in 10 primary care physicians say they participate in an accountable care organization, 30% of whom have a positive view and 24% a negative view of its impact on quality.