Another evolvement of the cost and risk shifting model: consumer-driven health plans.
The US health care system has changed dramatically over the past forty years or so. This paper analyzes its potential transformation into a consumer-driven health care system (with the newly enacted HSAs and the increased popularity of employer defined contributions). The emphasis in the first part is the evolution of the role of providers (mostly physicians) into bearers of financial risk and gatekeepers. The second part discusses the new consumer-driven health care proposals and its potential impact on the future of health care as it pertains to putting consumers under financial risk and gives them a perceived sense of control over health care decisions.
Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, USA.
Shadi S
SS
Saleh
Peter
P
Levin
D003256:Community Participation; D017047:Cost Sharing; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D014481:United States