A recent report published in the Canadian Journal of Diabetes found that in Ontario, the method by which physicians are paid can affect whether or not patients actually receive their recommended treatments.
Dr. Tara Kiran explained in a press release that not all patients receiving treatment for diabetes in Ontario are receiving equal care.
“Ontarians whose doctors are paid a lump sum per patient are more likely to get the diabetes tests they need.”
According to a Healio article, Kiran and researchers from St. Michael’s and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences examined available administrative data for 757,928 patients who were at least 40 years old with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Researchers then tracked those patients for two years to see if they received three monitoring tests.
Kiran explained in her statement that “lump sum funding gives family physicians the flexibility to spend more time with complex patients.” Additionally, it allows them to collaborate with other professionals and then integrate email and phone calls into their practices.
Over the last 10 years, Ontario has shifted to a fee-for-service model, plus a lump sum payment for number of patients enrolled in a practice. The news source stated that 40 percent of primary care physicians in the territory are now paid in this blended capitation model.
“What’s Hot” is aggregated content. PYMNTS.com claims no responsibility for the accuracy of the content published by the original source.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
Learn More