Paul Ginsburg, PhD, Discusses Implications of Physician-Hospital Integration

Paul Ginsburg, PhD, president at Center for Studying Health System Change, says hospital mergers are increasingly building larger health systems. The most dramatic changes in the market have been in the vertical integration and acquisition of physician practices by hospitals. As physicians join these care models, it provides them an alternative way of integrating into something just short of a group practice.

“It makes looser forms of integration more viable because there are the potential of financial rewards and the benefits of delivering care under a more supportive payment system,” said Dr Ginsburg.