,Back To The Future? New Cost and Access Challenges Emerge: Initial Findings from HSC's Recent Site Visits

Back To The Future? New Cost and Access Challenges Emerge: Initial Findings from HSC's Recent Site Visits


 

Publication Date: February 2001

Publisher: Center for Studying Health System Change

Author(s): Cara S. Lesser; Paul B. Ginsburg

Research Area: Health

Type: Brief

Abstract:

Every two years, researchers at the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) interview health care leaders in 12 nationally representative communities to assess changes in local health care markets. The third round of site visits is underway, and early findings from 2000-2001 indicate significant changes in health care financing and delivery are taking place across the country. This Issue Brief discusses developments in managed care, hospital consolidation, physician-hospital tensions, risk contracting and health plan premiums. State and federal policy makers charged with balancing cost, coverage, access and quality of health care should consider these emerging trends in their decision making.