Does Trend Toward Consolidation Risk Health Care Cost Controls?
The Fiscal Times: Monopolies Threaten Health Care Cost ControlsBeyond the legal challenges, a major new hurdle is emerging for the health care reform law. Recent studies show that the major players in the health care marketplace insurers, hospitals and physician practices are consolidating, which increases the likelihood they will collude on prices charged to employers and to consumers and defeat cost control measures in the law. Government officials are already grappling with the issue as they move to implement one of the signature cost control elements of reform the formation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) (Goozner, 2/3). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
