Do physician networks with standardized audit and feedback deliver better quality care for older patients compared to regular care?: a quasi-experimental study using claims data from Bavaria, Germany.

"Conflicts of interest : None declared."

"Funding The current analysis was part of the study ‘ATP Arztnetze—Arbeitsteilung und Performance empirischer und organisierter Netzwerke im ambulanten Sektor’ (‘ATP physician networks—Division of labour and performance of empirical and organized physician networks in the ambulatory sector’). The study was fully funded by the German Federal Joint Committee (GBA, grant no. 01VSF17030 (ATP)). The funder had no role in the conception, implementation or analysis of the study. The authors and their contributions to the manuscript are independent from the funder. Conflicts of interest: None declared. Key pointsOur study examined whether networks of office-based ambulatory care physicians that used a standardized system of audit and feedback performed better than regular care in Germany in terms of health, processes of care and care coordination.No significant differences were found in rates of potentially avoidable hospitalizations due to ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions between network patients and those receiving regular care.Physician networks demonstrated better performance regarding vaccinations, managing chronic conditions, and referral management, whereas indicators related to pharmacotherapy and care coordination showed mixed results, suggesting the need for further investigation."