Balancing financial incentives during COVID-19: A comparison of provider payment adjustments across 20 countries.

ABSTRACT: Provider payment mechanisms were adjusted in many countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Our objective was to review adjustments for hospitals and healthcare professionals across 20 countries. We developed an analytical framework distinguishing between payment adjustments compensating income loss and those covering extra costs related to COVID-19. Information was extracted from the Covid-19 Health System Response Monitor (HSRM) and classified according to the framework. We found that income loss was not a problem in countries where professionals were paid by salary or capitation and hospitals received global budgets. In countries where payment was based on activity, income loss was compensated through budgets and higher fees. New FFS payments were introduced to incentivize

SUBMITTER: Waitzberg R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8492384 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature