This article, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), considers the complexities surrounding linking provider payments and quality of care and health outcomes, noting that, among other issues,  reimbursement must be adjusted for patients' coexisting conditions to prevent hospitals for treating only low-risk patients to achieve high quality ratings. 

Wang, C. J., Conroy, K. N., Zuckerman, B. (2009). Payment reform for safety-net institutions—improving quality and outcomes. NEJM, 361(19), 1821-1823.

*Note: The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) policies preclude us from providing an article abstract or linking to the NEJM website; however, this article is available in full via the NEJM website. 

Authors: C. Jason Wang, Kathleen N. Conroy, Barry Zuckerman.