Overview

Population ageing and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases challenge health care systems, underscoring the need for new approaches to population health management, such as integrated care. Financial incentives are used in many countries to encourage the implementation of integrated care schemes. Here, we review innovative integrated care schemes, payment models and financial incentives implemented in several countries at the forefront of integrated care. The review shows that further assessment of the effectiveness of these incentives is required; caution also should be taken when translating cost-effective incentives from one country to another, as they may not be transferable.