In 2006 AAPPO released a study sponsored by Caremark examining a variety of ways PPOs can use incentives to improve care quality – regardless of the PPO’s business model. To access the PPO Pay for Performance and Other Incentives White paper, click here.

PPOs, regardless of their business model, can reach patients, payers and providers through a variety of options including:

• Selective contracting with high quality providers or increasing patient awareness of quality providers through directory recognition;
  
  Click here for links to NCQA’s Diabetes Physician Recognition Program
  
  Click here for an AAPPO member example, see Aetna’s DocFind program




• Consulting with payers to create benefits that include incentives for patients to seek care and take care of themselves as necessary;
  
  Click here for information on “Value based benefit design” and the University of Michigan Diabetes Initiative




• Partnering with payers to create physician incentives
  
  Click here for the Bridges to Excellence Program




• Using web based information, including health risk assessments and patient education to improve patient care;




• For an AAPPO Member example, see Wellpoint PPO’s Health Risk Assessment




• Collaborating with other local organizations for a community-based education, information or quality improvement campaign;
  
  Click here for AAPPO Member example, First Choice Health Network and Collaboration with the Puget Sound Health alliance




• Offering diabetes disease management directly or in partnership with a vendor
  
  Click here for information about collaborating with a disease management organization




• Enhancing web links for consumers with diabetes information
  
  Many sites are available that offer information for patients on living with diabetes. These sites can be linked to the PPO consumer information. Click here for an example.