Risk shifting in subacute care.

The implications of risk shifting on subacute care providers by payers are enormous. Financially, it will force subacute care providers to strategize on how to deal with capitated arrangements. Strategically, it will provide the impetus for retaining, increasing or losing market share in the health care arena. Philosophically, it will forge a leveling of the playing field among different subacute care sites in terms of average length of stay and pricing.