Cost effective nursing under prospective reimbursement

The implications of the prospective payment system are far-reaching and have specific impact on nurses. It is essential that nurses fully understand the ramifications of this system and appreciate their critical role in making health care most cost-effective for both the patient and the institution. This article will compare a retrospective, cost-based reimbursement system with a prospective reimbursement system. The role of the nurse as a Patient Advocate under prospective reimbursement will be examined. A case presentation will demonstrate the types of choices nurses must make to balance technology with cost-containment measures.