Various provider payment mechanisms will continue to exist in the country’s health care system. Emphasis is placed, however, on the current movement towards using performance-driven, prospective payments (e.g. Global Budget Payment) based on diagnosis-related groups (DRG). The shift to DRG-based GBP will not be easy. Mechanisms should be in place to avoid underprovision and ensure quality health care.

At the end of it all, “mixing” of provider payment mechanisms can be complementary or compensatory. It is promising how incentives will come into play when these mechanisms align themselves during the implementation of the UHC law.

Happy to know that PHIC is now working on this with various agencies. Very few hands on deck though.