title: Concentration of U.S. hospitals, 1991--1999, and its implications for a national health program.
abstract: Concentration of hospitals into systems increased from 1991 to 1999. The share of patient care in systems as opposed to independent hospitals rose from 39 to 57 percent. More concentration occurred among secular not-for-profit hospitals than among for-profit hospitals. Systems of hospitals raise the concentration ratio in local markets dramatically. The change in economic structure and market power challenges traditional proposals and strategies aiming to achieve a national health program.
authors.affiliation: charles1848@value.net
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D006761:Hospitals / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D009313:National Health Programs; D014481:United States