The impact of provider consolidation on outpatient prescription drug - based cancer care spending

Medical provider consolidation’s impact on spending is an empirical question. On the one hand, consolidation may lead to the identification and dissemination of best practices and reductions in the use of unnecessary care, resulting in reduced spending. Alternatively, consolidation may allow outpatient practices and/or hospitals to gain bargaining power in negotiations with insurers, pushing up prices and/or changing the mix of treatments provided to patients, leading to increased spending.