The next stage of managed care.
Since the turn of the century, we have gone from medicine as a cottage industry, based largely on barter, to the complex entity it is today. What we will see in the coming decade, if not sooner is the emergence of the next level of managed care. As managed care matures, contradictions in the health care system that we have not been able to resolve will be addressed, as well as other value-related issues. The ability to deliver value and then to monitor outcomes will be the nut to crack. The next big movement will be to hone in on outcomes and measurement. This will be the path to increasing the inherent value of the medical care system. This will go hana in hand with accountability, which is where physician-sponsored networks (PSNs) will be an indispensable tool. Centered as they are around accountability and responsibility, PSNs will be a natural starting point for developing the protocols to produce and collect this data. The standardization of care, anchored upon medical evidence, is the objective.
van Amerongen
D
D
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Mason, OH, USA. derek_van_amerongen@aici.com
D019985:Benchmarking; D019058:Community Networks; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000639:trends*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D020400:Provider-Sponsored Organizations / Q000639:trends*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology