Amid a health care landscape of rising prices and inconsistent quality, many have called for more competition in the United States to solve these growing concerns. While proponents argue that this would force hospitals to deliver better care at a lower cost, competition is no panacea. The quality of care continues to vary dramatically between and within health systems, and studies suggest that competition might actually reduce quality and exacerbate inequities for patient populations deemed “unprofitable.”
How Collaboration Can Drastically Improve U.S. Health Care
Several ambitious initiatives at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan show how it can improve outcomes and reduce costs.
March 16, 2022
Summary.
One of the positive results of the pandemic has been increased collaboration among hospitals in metropolitan areas of the country. But the value of collaboration isn’t limited to crises. It can be a mechanism for improving quality and reducing costs in normal times. Collaborations among dozens of hospitals and physician organizations in Michigan that date back to 1997 are a case in point. They have scored impressive results in a variety of areas, including cardiovascular care, bariatric surgery, blood clot prevention, general surgery, joint replacements, and urology.