The effects of financial risk sharing in clinical practice

Abstract

‘ Success in the post-managed care healthcare revolution requires the acceptance of risk. Survival for providers and payers means controlling the risk, and controlling the risk involves changing physicians’ behaviour’ , said Dr Richard E Dixon from Alta Bates Medical Group, California, US. Speaking at the Management Forum meeting entitled ‘Beyond the Cost-benefit Study’ [ London, UK; February 1996 ], Dr Dixon described the financial risks that US physicians face in the aftermath of the managed-care revolution. The significant changes associated with a move to managed care were brought on primarily by purchasers - the large employers - with the aim of controlling medical cost inflation.