The Politics and Policies of Selective Funding: The Case of State-level Quality Incentives

Selective incentive funding for quality improvement has emerged in many states as an attractive innovation. This article summarizes such practices in New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee and assesses the strategy of selective funding in the context of Lowi’s political model (adapted), which analyzes political forces working against the long-term viability of selectivity. The article also discusses key political and managerial issues common to most state incentive programs reviewed.