Skip Navigation

Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

Sign up for MCHalert eNewsletter

Evidence Tools
MCHbest. Well-Woman Visit.

MCHbest Logo

Strategy. Patient Financial Incentives for Preventive Care

Approach. Support the use of patient financial incentives for preventive care

Return to main MCHbest page >>

Overview. Financial incentives such as payments and vouchers are often used to encourage patients to undergo preventive care such as screenings, vaccinations, and other brief interventions.

Evidence. Scientifically Rigorous Evidence. Strategies with this rating are most likely to be effective...

Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.

Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:

  • Medicaid and CHIP program data
  • Patient Qualitative Feedback
  • Provider surveys

Outcome Components. This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes (Read more about these categories):

  • Cost. This strategy helps to decrease the financial expenditure incurred by individuals, healthcare systems, and society in general for healthcare services.
  • Utilization. This strategy improves the extent to which individuals and communities use available healthcare services.
  • Health Care Access for All MCH Populations.

Detailed Outcomes. For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, access the peer-reviewed evidence and read the Intervention Results for each study.

Intervention Type. Policy Development and Enforcement (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the Public Health Intervention Wheel).

Intervention Level. Community-Focused

Examples from the Field. Access descriptions of ESMs that use this strategy or aligned components.

Sample ESMs. Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework (see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).

Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)

  • Number of patients sent reminders about financial incentives for preventive care. (Measures outreach efforts to inform patients about available incentives)
  • Number of preventive care visits scheduled by patients eligible for financial incentives. (Measures how many appointments are made in response to incentive offers)

Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)

  • Percent of patients sent reminders who schedule a preventive care visit. (Measures effectiveness of outreach at driving appointment scheduling)
  • Percent of financial incentive recipients who report high satisfaction with the program. (Measures participant experience and perception of value)

Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)

  • Number of community partners engaged to promote financial incentives for preventive care. (Measures engagement with local organizations to increase awareness and uptake)
  • Number of patient referrals to smoking cessation, healthy diet or physical activity programs. (Measures linkage from preventive care to support for adopting healthy behaviors)
  • Number of patients receiving financial incentives who get flu shots and other recommended vaccines. (Measures increased utilization of proven prevention tools)
  • Number of patients screened for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions. (Measures early detection of treatable diseases)

Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)

  • Percent of eligible patients in intended audience who receive incentives. (Measures success at reaching focus populations)
  • Percent of patients receiving recommended preventive care before and after implementing financial incentives. (Measures impact of incentives on boosting preventive service utilization rates)
  • Percent reduction in emergency department visits for preventable conditions among incentive recipients. (Measures change in costly care for manageable issues)
  • Percent of incentive recipients diagnosed with a chronic disease due to preventive screening. (Measures success of early detection)

Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:

  1. Move from measuring quantity to quality.
  2. Move from measuring effort to effect.
  3. Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
  4. The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.

Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy, $3.5 M. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.