The Changing Landscape of Health Insurance

Updated: August 2007 edition

The current focus regarding continuous improvement in the quality of health care is effecting major changes in the way that health care is delivered and how it is measured. 

Efforts to assess the performance of hospitals, health care organizations, and physicians have been gaining increasing support as the vehicle to improve the quality of health care. Simultaneously, physicians are concerned about maintaining the viability of their practices with level or minimum increases in reimbursement rates, expanding administrative burdens, increasing professional liability rates and overhead costs, and decreasing autonomy to treat their patients. 

This paper outlines the current trend in the health care environment toward consumer involvement and the alignment of payment policies with quality improvement and healthcare provider performance. Additionally, the challenges and opportunities for physicians are reviewed and a comprehensive appendix of Consumer Directed Health Plan Products is provided.

Download "The Changing Landscape of Health Insurance" (Updated August 2007) (.pdf, 205 kb, 31 pages)