The economic evolution of American health care

Description:

"The book covers everything from start-up troubles with the first managed care organizations to attempts at government regulation to the mergers and quality control issues facing MCOs today. It also reflects on how difficult it is for patients to shop for medical care. Up until the 1970s, patients looked to autonomous physicians for recommendations on procedures and hospitals - a process that relied more on the patient's trust of the physician than on facts, and resulted in skyrocketing medical costs. Newly emerging MCOs have tried to solve the shopping problem by tracking the performance of care providers while obtaining discounts for their clients.". "Many observers accuse MCOs of caring more about cost than quality, and argue for government regulation. Dranove, however, believes that market forces can eventually achieve quality care and cost control. But first, MCOs must improve their ways of measuring provider performance, medical records must be made more complete and accessible (a task that need not compromise patient confidentiality), and patients must be willing to seek and act on information about the best care available. Dranove argues that patients can regain confidence in the medical system, and even come to trust MCOs, but they will need to rely on both their individual doctors and their own consumer awareness."--BOOK JACKET.

subjects: Economic aspects of Medical care,  Public health,  Economic aspects of Public health,  Medical economics,  Managed care plans (Medical care),  Medical care,  Economic aspects of Managed care plans (Medical care),  Soins intégrés de santé,  Managed Care Programs,  Economics,  Delivery of Health Care,  Prestation de soins,  Gesundheitsfürsorge,  Aspect économique,  Gezondheidszorg,  Gesundheitsökonomie,  Trends,  Santé, Services de,  Economische aspecten,  Economic aspects,  Medical care, united states,  Medical care, cost of,  Public health, united states,  Medical policy

Places: United States