The effects of a schizophrenia pay‐for‐performance program on patient outcomes in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a schizophrenia pay‐for‐performance (P4P) program on the health outcomes of patients in Taiwan. DATA SOURCES: Seven years (2007‐2013) of data from the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) databases were examined. STUDY DESIGN: P4P patients included those who were treated at participating facilities and consecutively included in the regular group (classified by the NHIA). Non‐P4P patients were treated at nonparticipating facilities and never included in the regular group. The caliper matching method and a generalized estimating equation were used to estimate difference‐in‐differences models (baseline year 2009) and examine the short‐ and long‐term effects of the P4P program on adverse outcomes. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The schizophrenia P4P program was associated with decreases in unscheduled outpatient visits (OR: 0.69, P