Publications
Publications
  • June 2017
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Obesity Management at Kaiser Permanente: A New Mindset for Healthcare Delivery?

By: Kevin Schulman, Gregory Leya and Christina Beveridge
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:22
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Abstract

Kaiser Permanente (KP) is the largest managed care organization in the United States with over 10 million members. KP evolved from a prepayment or capitation model that focuses the organization around the efficiency of care and the health of the population it serves. This financial model is in stark contrast to the fee-for-service payment model for other health care organizations. Given the epidemic of obesity in the U.S., KP is facing an enormous potential liability from future costs of obesity and diabetes. Given low turnover in health plan membership, how should they respond to this crisis? How should they invest in the health of their covered population, their employees, and the communities they serve? The case details the origins and development of KP.

Keywords

Operations; Health Care and Treatment; Business Model; Strategy; Health Industry; United States

Citation

Schulman, Kevin, Gregory Leya, and Christina Beveridge. "Obesity Management at Kaiser Permanente: A New Mindset for Healthcare Delivery?" Harvard Business School Case 317-106, June 2017.

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