In shared-savings models, what does patient attribution determine?

• A. It determines which patients' outcomes and costs affect performance and potential shared savings.
• B. It determines the overall budget for the model.
• C. It determines hospital staffing levels.
• D. It determines the number of patients enrolled.

Answer: (A)

In shared-savings arrangements, attribution links patients to a specific clinician or provider group for measurement. The essential point is that attribution decides which patients’ outcomes and costs count toward performance and any potential shared savings. Only the outcomes and spending of attributed patients are used to gauge success and determine rewards, and this population can be set in advance or identified after the fact depending on the method used.

This attribution framework is separate from the overall budget, staffing decisions, or how many patients are enrolled—the contract and program design determine those factors. So the best fit is that attribution determines which patients’ outcomes and costs affect performance and potential shared savings.