Provider profiling What works for medicine works for mental health?

Provider profiling is a growing practice in organizations that supply or pay for health care, and escalating health care costs are likely to accelerate this trend. First developed for general medical settings, profiling systems now challenge practicing psychologists to meet ostensibly objective, scientific standards of care. The most advanced approaches compare providers on a "level playing field" statistically adjusted for variations in the "illness burden" of their patients. Profiling psychological practice, however, requires specialized new tools and more sophisticated analytical methods than have typically been used. This article provides a practical overview of provider profiling, emphasizing related developments in health care policy that are perhaps less familiar to practicing psychologists. Potential pitfalls confronting professional psychology are discussed, and points for advocacy are suggested.