Humana has launched a national, value-based care incentive program that provides compensation dependent on quality improvement and performance. The Hospital Incentive Program (HIP) is based on three key areas of care: patient experience, safety and outcomes.

The HIP, which took effect at the beginning of 2018, offers participating hospitals extra money based on their performance in the following metrics:

• Follow-up appointments 14 days after discharge;
• The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey;
• Length of stay;
• 30-day readmission rate;
• Infection rates; and
• Palliative care performance.

The HIP also incorporates two certification programs created by The Joint Commission.

The HIP will be available to all hospitals that have commercial contracts with Humana. Hospitals won’t be penalized for failing to improve on any of these metrics if they participate in the program. Humana said that a number of hospitals are already participating but declined to give an exact number, saying it would announce the figure soon.

For more information, visit www.valuebasedcare.humana.com.