ABSTRACT
The healthcare system in this country is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Fee-for-service reimbursement is being replaced by financial reimbursement mechanisms based on utilization review and capitated payments. The expansion of managed care in both the public and private sectors and the enrollment of high risk populations affects both providers and patients. Providers may face financial distress resulting from inadequate reimbursement and patients may face limited access to vital services, services of lesser quality, or inappropriate care. The development of care standards and payment rates is essential and can be best accomplished through the support and development of innovative care models from which information can be drawn and upon which successful interventions can be fashioned. Healthcare reform initiatives, as noted earlier, continue to be aimed at controlling healthcare costs while ensuring quality of care. The Transprofessional Model of care uses the services of hospice-trained teams of nurses and social workers.
