TY - JOUR
T1 - Inadequate in the Best of Times
T2 - Reevaluating Provider Networks in Light of the Coronavirus Pandemic
AU - Haeder, Simon F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Policy Studies Organization
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - The coronavirus has affected billions of people worldwide. As of early June, estimates of infections exceeded six million individuals, about double the number from early May. The United States has experienced more cases than Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, Canada, Japan, and Russia combined. To make things worse, the structure of the U.S. health-care system may significantly impede access to needed medical services while exposing patients to financial liabilities. One particularly concerning feature may be the limitations on access imposed by provider networks. This article briefly reviews what we know about the narrowing of provider networks, and how findings from a series of recent articles illustrating the often-severe restrictions imposed by these networks may be particularly detrimental in the middle of a global health emergency. I also highlight how the actions taken by policymakers to temporarily mitigate these problems have fallen short and what potential long-term solutions might look like.
AB - The coronavirus has affected billions of people worldwide. As of early June, estimates of infections exceeded six million individuals, about double the number from early May. The United States has experienced more cases than Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, Canada, Japan, and Russia combined. To make things worse, the structure of the U.S. health-care system may significantly impede access to needed medical services while exposing patients to financial liabilities. One particularly concerning feature may be the limitations on access imposed by provider networks. This article briefly reviews what we know about the narrowing of provider networks, and how findings from a series of recent articles illustrating the often-severe restrictions imposed by these networks may be particularly detrimental in the middle of a global health emergency. I also highlight how the actions taken by policymakers to temporarily mitigate these problems have fallen short and what potential long-term solutions might look like.
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U2 - 10.1002/wmh3.357
DO - 10.1002/wmh3.357
M3 - Article
C2 - 32837778
AN - SCOPUS:85088932388
SN - 2153-2028
VL - 12
SP - 282
EP - 290
JO - World Medical and Health Policy
JF - World Medical and Health Policy
IS - 3
ER -