Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana is planning to increase payments by as much as 10% for physicians who follow recommended care guidelines, the Indianapolis Star reports. The program will use information from the Indiana Health Information Exchange's Quality Health First program. IHIE allows health care providers to access medical information securely over the Internet and generates reports for physicians showing whether patients have received recommended screenings and care.

Physicians who participate in the program will receive monthly reports comparing their patients' health status to others' in the region. Bonus payments will be based on physicians' rankings. Physicians also will receive information on individual patients. Marc Overhage, CEO of IHIE, said, "People in the community may start hearing from their physician offices more."

Meredith Rosenthal, associate professor of health economics and policy at the Harvard School of Public Health, said, "The jury is somewhat still out" on the fairness and effectiveness of such pay-for-performance efforts. James Rohack, president-elect of the American Medical Association, noted concern about how pay-for-performance programs would punish physicians who treat noncompliant patients (Lee, Indianapolis Star, 10/16).