Leapfrog Group updates P4P Web site

The intent is to allow users to compare various pay-for-performance programs, but few programs are listed as yet.

By Pamela Lewis Dolan, AMNews staff. Jan. 14, 2008.

The Leapfrog Group has updated its online reward and incentive compendium and added a new P4P Decision Tool to help users learn about the range of programs available -- or devise their own.

The pay-for-performance compendium has been on the group's Web site since 2004. The database is searchable and sortable, and has an area where outcomes are evaluated, said Kat Song, spokeswoman for Leapfrog. The recent upgrade allows for direct comparisons among programs.

The P4P Decision Tool allows users to sort the database by choosing specific attributes of a program, categorized by sponsor; target and location; performance metrics, such as those for clinical quality and safety, or HIT adoption; financial incentives/rewards; nonfinancial incentives; and other keywords.

Only 49 programs are represented in the self-reported compendium so far, a number Leapfrog would like to see grow. A survey by Leapfrog and Med-Vantage found about 148 P4P programs existed as of March 2007. The study also found the number of programs has continued to rise significantly each year as many existing programs have expanded their scope.

Any organization may list its incentive and rewards program, for no charge, on the compendium Web site (www.leapfroggroup.org/compendium2). Users may search the database for free.