Vertical integration and market consolidation in healthcare: Policy drivers and impact on physicians and patient care

IF 0.4 Q4 SURGERY

Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery Pub Date : 2024-09-01 DOI:10.1016/j.scrs.2024.101038

Rachel Ekaireb MD , Anna Yap MD , Robert Kucejko MD MS MBA

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

As healthcare markets have become increasingly consolidated, the vertical integration of physician practices with hospital networks has drawn additional scrutiny. While vertical integration within healthcare was once predicted to improve efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery, empirical study has uncovered mixed results. In a review of existing literature, vertical integration has yielded inconsistent effects on health quality metrics, with modest improvements at best, but has consistently driven up prices. This article reviews economic theory and the real-world effects of vertical mergers within healthcare and discusses policies driving this trend. Given the impacts of vertical integration on healthcare outcomes, cost, patient choice and physician wellbeing, physicians should advocate for regulations that preserve sufficient competition in healthcare markets and diversity of practice settings.

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医疗保健领域的纵向一体化和市场整合：政策驱动因素及其对医生和患者护理的影响

随着医疗市场的日益整合，医生执业与医院网络的纵向整合引起了更多的关注。虽然人们曾预测医疗保健领域的纵向整合会提高医疗保健服务的效率和质量，但实证研究发现，结果喜忧参半。在对现有文献的回顾中，纵向整合对医疗质量指标的影响并不一致，充其量只是略有改善，但却持续推高了价格。本文回顾了医疗保健领域纵向兼并的经济理论和实际效果，并讨论了推动这一趋势的政策。鉴于纵向合并对医疗保健结果、成本、患者选择和医生福利的影响，医生应倡导制定相关法规，以维护医疗保健市场的充分竞争和执业环境的多样性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery SURGERY-

CiteScore

0.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery offers a comprehensive and coordinated review of a single, timely topic related to the diagnosis and treatment of proctologic diseases. Each issue is an organized compendium of practical information that serves as a lasting reference for colorectal surgeons, general surgeons, surgeons in training and their colleagues in medicine with an interest in colorectal disorders.