Uptake of the heart failure management incentive billing code by family physicians in Ontario, Canada: a retrospective cohort study

In 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care implemented an incentive payment, Q050A billing code, to family physicians for provision of comprehensive, guideline-based care for patients with heart failure in the community. Our objective was to report on the uptake of this program from fiscal years 2008 to 2014. We determined the numbers of claims billed per year and the proportion of eligible patients with CHF for whom a physician billed. The code was billed by 10.4% of all family physicians in 2008-2009, which increased to 15.1% in 2014-2015. The code was claimed for 4.1% of all identified patients with CHF in 2008-2009 and 5.9% of patients with CHF in 2014-2015. Given these findings, it is estimated that the MOHLTC paid an additional $10,118,514 Canadian to family physicians managing patients with CHF. This is the first study to examine the uptake of CHF specific incentive program which will help to inform health policy makers in implementing such programs in Ontario.