Health plans and providers: how new partnerships are evolving in a volatile environment

As the fee-for-service health system dwindles, organized provider structures and mutually beneficial relationships are forming between providers and payers. Providers and payers--united by shared goals of efficiency and effectiveness of care--are beginning to work together to identify and achieve their financial and quality objectives. In this article, the author discusses the evolution of these relationships in health care delivery, addresses the challenges of integration, and reveals the winners in this new delivery system.