EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF GP REMUNERATION - PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

General practice reform is occurring in a number of countries. Little is known, however, of the effects of remunerating general practitioners on the costs and outcomes of care. Valuable lessons can be learned for the scope and design of future research, however, from the existing literature on the effects of general practioner (GP) remuneration. The objectives of this paper are to highlight some of the problems and pitfalls that should be avoided in any further research on the effects of GP remuneration and to identify the main issues for future research. Eighteen studies of the effects of GP remuneration have been reviewed, with a focus on the methods used. Eight studies addressed the effec..