Management

For-Profit Enterprise in Health Care

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For-Profit Enterprise in Health Care was stimulated by concerns among members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and others that health services—already heavily dependent on monetary transactions through prepayment and insurance—will become excessively commercialized, with growing ownership by stockholders. The issues closely associated with these concerns are examined in depth in this report, against a background of such broad public policy challenges as how to balance social justice and efficiency and to what degree regulation or competition can be relied on to strike the proper balance. In my view, this report makes clear that type of ownership is an important variable affecting the entire health care system—delivery and financing institutions alike. And I believe that it will become even more important as competition among health institutions increases and services are paid for increasingly on a prospective or incentive basis. Indeed, it is an issue that will require close attention by regulators and informed buyers in both the public and private sectors. In this context, special attention must be given systemwide to such key outcomes as cost, access, quality, and equity, as well as to the viability of research and educational programs. With regard to the broad public policy challenges, opinions differ as to the degree to which the market can be trusted to allocate limited resources; but in my view, there can be little doubt that the market alone cannot be trusted and that it must be buttressed by enlightened public policy beyond what is seen today and by a clearer commitment to excellence among professionals.

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Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

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Publisher

: ., 1986

Collation

1-581

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

0-309-55763-1

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

For-Profit Enterprise in Health Care

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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