Outsourcing Trend Emerging In Health Care Industry

California Healthline: Outsourcing May Grow As Health System Evolves
Outsourcing, an established but fairly static practice in the U.S. health care industry, may grow in scope as the country experiences major shifts in health care delivery. The health care industry is no stranger to outsourcing. Administrative work -- billing, collections, enrollment, eligibility -- as well as clinical work -- radiology, laboratory tests, physical therapy -- are often done by contractors outside the health system providing coverage and care. In some systems, insurers and hospitals routinely outsource specific kinds of specialized care, such as intensive pediatric care, neurosurgery and burn care. With pressure mounting from several directions, health care systems may be looking outside more often and with a wider lens, according to some experts (Lauer, 8/2).