ABSTRACT
As we’ve been arguing, the United States has reached the point where key constituent groups have significant economic and financial concerns-providers and physicians about their revenues, and payers and patients about the affordability of care. At the heart of any discussion about healthcare reform is an increasingly clear mandate to provide better care at lower cost. Health policy shifts are placing increased accountability and cost pressures on providers to improve patient safety, quality of care, and consistency of care delivered, and payers and consumers alike are increasing their demands for improved economic and clinical value (ECV).
