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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Howard S. Berliner, ScD, Health Services Management and Policy, Milano Graduate School, New School, 72 Fifth Avenue #705, New York, NY 10011, 212 229 5337 x1616, berliner@newschool.edu

In recent years a large number of services that were formerly perforned only in acute care hospitals have been moving into ambulatory surgical or diagnostic centers or physician offics. This practice poses problems for those states that regulate technology and service provision through a Certificate of Need (CON) process. This paper addresses the implications of this movement on the financial stability of hospitals, the social safety net, and access to care. While the movement from inpatient to outpatient settings may potentially save money for the health care system, until quality measures are available to consumers, it will not be possible to assess the cost-benefit tradeoff in such movement. Regulatory strategies that could have an impact on this problem will be addressed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Identify the services that are moving out of hospitals and into the ambulatory care sector
• Evaluate the impact of such movement on hospital and health system finances
• Assess the way in which Certificate of Need (CON) reform may be able to improve the regulation of such activities
• Discuss alternative approaches to the regulation of this activity

Keywords: Access to Care, Regulations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation