Changing economics in an era of healthcare reform.

a s health systems prepare for healthcare reform, they are focusing significant resources on developing accountable care organizations and medical homes and on preparing for bundled payments and population-based reimbursement. However, current economic trends combined with an analysis of the impact of key healthcare reform initiatives will require health systems to take significant cost out of their systems to maintain positive financial performance. Few organizations have the culture or the expertise to implement a cost-reduction effort of this magnitude.