This study published in Health Affairs examines the impact of pay-for-performance mechanisms in Massachusetts on the care for racial and ethnic minorities and people of low socioeconomic status. The study found that practices serving large numbers of at-risk populations received, on average, $7,000 less in performance-based payments.

Friedberg, M.W., Safran, D.G., Coltin, K., Dresser, M., and Schneider, E.C. (2010). Paying for performance in primary care: potential impact on practices and disparities. Health Affairs, 29(5): 926-932. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0985.  http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/5/926

Authors: Mark W. Friedberg, Dana Gelb Safran, Kathryn Coltin, Marguerite Dresser and Eric C. Schneider