Bonuses Ontario paid to MDs had little effect on 3 cancer screening rates

More than $100-million in bonuses the Ontario government paid to doctors did little to increase screening rates for three kinds of cancer, according to a new study that undermines the popular notion that financial incentives can change how physicians care for their patients. Researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto found a program introduced in 2006 produced no significant change, despite the province spending $28.3-million, $31.3-million and $50-million, respectively, on bonuses over three years for family doctors who hit targets for cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening. Read more here.