title: A blended strategy using competitive and regulatory models.
abstract: Whether the health field in the United States should have more competition or more government regulation is now at the center of the public policy debate. After examining the market-driven and regulatory models to constrain cost and improve access to care, this article argues against supporting either extreme and instead favors a blended approach where the emphasis is on practicality rather than ideological exactness. Such a mixed strategy is predicted to eventually gain acceptance, legitimacy, and momentum, since such a hybrid design is more consistent with America's cultural and political values.
authors.affiliation: Bedford Health Associates, Inc., Management Consultants for Health & Hospital Services, Asheville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Weil
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Battistella
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D004465:Economic Competition; D005161:Facility Regulation and Control; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D011057:Politics; D014481:United States