Walgreen's is now providing new services that include “assessment, treatment and management for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and others, as well as additional preventive health services.” ...This is not about better or more consistent care. Those doctors are worried about the revenue they are losing.
But some physicians are upset by the expansion, saying it will further splinter an already fragmented health care system and therefore harm quality and patient safety.
...
Walgreens, for example, has formed various affiliations with large hospital systems and doctor-led clinics across the country to create patient-care protocols and other programs. Walgreen has also formed and is joining with larger providers to create accountable care organizations, which organize a collection of medical-care providers to care for a group of patients.
ACOs work to keep patients healthy and out of the more expensive hospital setting. If ACOs are successful and reduce costs, the providers in the organization divvy up the savings with the health plans that are paying them.
And it's not about saving money either- it doesn't save anyone anything. It just gets pocketed by someone else. Thus this very fascinating public squabble. Expect more of this behavior. (See the ADA.)
I am all for low cost clinics for health maintenance. But the truly scary part of this one is the conflict of interest. A drug distributor is now helping write protocols for sick people.
