By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress disorder
    5 Ways To Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    October 27, 2021
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    April 5, 2023
    varicose veins
    Varicose Veins Prevention: 3 Lifestyle Changes to Make Right Now
    May 1, 2022
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    How People Are Taking Advantage of Health Deals in the Recent Recession
    February 5, 2021
    Florida Board of Medicine Declares Arizona Homeopathic Doctor “Very, Very Dangerous”
    October 29, 2018
    6 Ways to Make Sure You’re Detoxing Properly
    July 26, 2018
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Care Coordination: Not Just Economics but the “Right Thing to Do”
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Care Coordination: Not Just Economics but the “Right Thing to Do”
Policy & Law

Care Coordination: Not Just Economics but the “Right Thing to Do”

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

The New York Times (Small-Picture Approach Flips Medical Economics) has an upbeat piece about the potential for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to improve quality and reduce costs. The article focuses on Fannie Cline, a diabetic patient in Chicago, whose provide organization, Advocate Health Care now has financial incentives to keep her out of the hospital.

The New York Times (Small-Picture Approach Flips Medical Economics) has an upbeat piece about the potential for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to improve quality and reduce costs. The article focuses on Fannie Cline, a diabetic patient in Chicago, whose provide organization, Advocate Health Care now has financial incentives to keep her out of the hospital.

Cline is happy to receive frequent calls from a nurse who coaches her on diet and exercise and coordinate her medical and social work appointments. And Advocate Health is confident in generating a substantial financial return on its investment in such care coordinators, because it is paid by Blue Cross as an ACO, presumably receiving a fixed fee per member rather than billing on a fee for service basis. As Advocate’s chief medical officer tells the Times, “It’s more than just economics. It’s the right thing to do.”

That’s good to hear, because for too long providers that do the right thing (like preventing hospital admissions where possible) have suffered financially rather than reaping any kind of reward. Putting the financial incentives in the right place is a smart and obvious idea that’s too often absent. ACOs won’t get things exactly right but they don’t need to. Most doctors and hospitals aren’t driven purely by financial goals, so as long as the incentives are directionally correct –in that they don’t get punished for doing what’s clearly the right thing, then it’s ok.

More Read

Disruptions on the Yellow Brick Road
HIPAA Data Breaches Result in Hit to Patient Loyalty and High Costs
Health Information Technology Online Seminar
HHS Serves Up Prevention ‘Lite’
Can You Afford Readmission Penalties in 2015?

The HMO backlash in the 1990s was overblown and we’re still living with the consequences. It was easy to find horror stories about patients being denied needed care, but in truth most restrictions weren’t terribly onerous and patients could navigate their way around if they tired hard. Managed care did hold costs down for a few precious years and employers didn’t do nearly enough to defend the insurers when the backlash began. As a result we reverted to non-managed managed care such as Point of Service (POS) plans that were basically glorified fee for service arrangements.

There’s a great deal more understanding today that health care costs simply have to be contained. And yet there’s a serious danger that partisan and ideological attacks and charged words such as “rationing,” “government overreach” and “death panels” will set back the cost containment movement.

ACOs are far from perfect and are not the last word in health care cost and quality approaches, but it’s good to see them getting some favorable press.


TAGGED:ACOshealth reform
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

The Age of “Patient Opinion Leaders”

March 25, 2014

A Challenge of Ethics on Facebook

February 29, 2012
controlling drug costs
FinancePublic Health

Is Digital Health the Key to Bringing Control to Drug Costs?

October 3, 2013
BusinessNewsPolicy & LawPublic Health

Physicians Surveyed Gloomy About Healthcare Reform

March 13, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?