New payment structures conceived as part of the Affordable Care Act are prompting hospitals to shift away from treating patients on a case-by-case basis to instead adopt a population health model focusing on chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, the Philadelphia Inquirer has reported. Value-based payments have pushed hospitals more toward a preventative care, population health-based model. It also means hospitals are rethinking some of their community benefits as well, offering services that complement the new care model, such improved food and housing, and the reduction of smoking and drug abuse. >> Read the FierceHealthcare article