Evolution of the Healthcare Delivery System - Essay Example

"Evolution of the Healthcare Delivery System" is a great example of a paper on the health system. Current trends in the healthcare sector shift from Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). The concept of ACO is still changing but it essentially entails the coordination of hospitals, medical specialists, and primary care physicians (Gold). Collective responsibility is encouraged and the network of health care providers takes full accountability for the quality and cost of Medicare care to their patients. The members in the health care network share information and work towards better care for their members.

Under the HMO program, patients pick a primary care physician who serves to inform them on the medical needs and requirements. ACO offers a more integrated delivery system that contributes much to the quality of health care offers while also reducing patient’s troubles in terms of activity and finances (King, Rose, Merritt, and Okray 23).

            The health care movement points to the direction of getting the patients to save money while also getting the best care. They can do this by avoiding unnecessary procedures or tests. In the end, ACOs are likely to save a huge chunk of money from the national government that goes to health care funding. However, ACOs, unlike HMOs must undergo thorough quality scrutiny to ensure that money is not saved at the expense of the consumer (Shaw 37). For increased and increased quality aspect. ACOs are becoming the better option.

In the past, HMO has presented difficulties in adoption by patients because of its limiting nature. The options available to the customer are limited especially in regard to the referral system. A member of an ACO program is not limited to stay in the network. The program is more appealing to the consumers thus the increasing preference in recent times.

 

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