What are "pay-for-performance" programs designed to do?

Pay-for-performance programs are specifically designed to financially reward healthcare providers for meeting specific quality and efficiency standards. The concept stems from the desire to improve patient outcomes while controlling costs by linking financial incentives to performance metrics.

In these programs, healthcare providers are evaluated based on various indicators, such as patient satisfaction scores, adherence to clinical guidelines, and health outcomes related to specific treatments or procedures. When providers meet or exceed these established benchmarks, they receive financial incentives, which can manifest as bonuses or increased reimbursement rates.

This approach aims to encourage high-quality care and efficient service delivery, thus fostering a healthcare environment where providers actively seek to improve results for their patients rather than merely focusing on the volume of services rendered. By aligning provider compensation with the quality of care, pay-for-performance initiatives strive to motivate healthcare professionals to enhance patient experiences and outcomes.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary objective of pay-for-performance programs, which is not about providing bonuses to administrators, limiting services, or shifting costs to patients. Instead, the focus is on enhancing the quality of care through provider accountability and incentivization.