The impact of health-care reform on the cancer patient.
Reform of the United States' health-care system as we know it will require a reevaluation of the methods used in health-care delivery. Many changes are emerging in the health-care marketplace, and there is a prevailing trend toward universal coverage through managed care/competition. Global cost-control measures will become more prevalent, as we have seen already in the Clinton Administration's plan to become the sole and price-controlling customer for all childhood vaccines. Health-care delivery is evolving toward local care networks involving managed competition, a system in which patient groups will trade volume for price. Legal barriers presently include antitrust laws, which restrict collaboration among health providers, fraud and abuse laws, and tax considerations. Licensure and regulatory issues also may have an impact on reforms. The benefits most likely will include guaranteed health care, reduced health-care costs, and a better, more efficient quality of medical care. With these changes, however, there will be less freedom of choice in health care and a greater burden on certain sectors of the economy.