Market reform in New Jersey and quality of care: a cautionary tale.
As more that 40 states face present and projected deficits in their health care budgets, some legislatures are considering market-based reforms to control rising health care costs. This continues a trend begun in the 1990s that emphasized market competition over state regulation and mandates. However, little is known about the impact of many market-based reforms on quality of care. This Issue Brief evaluates the effect of one reform--the deregulation of hospital reimbursement rates in New Jersey--on one important outcome of care-mortality from acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). The findings serve as a reminder that cost-constraining reforms may reduce the quality of care, particularly for uninsured and other vulnerable populations.
Volpp
Kevin G M
KG
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Williams
Sankey V
SV
Pauly
Mark V
MV
D003363:Cost Control; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D007882:Legislation, Hospital; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality; D009515:New Jersey; D009518:New York; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States