What does ‘accountable care’ mean in military healthcare?

The concept of 'accountable care' in military healthcare fundamentally refers to a healthcare delivery model that emphasizes providing high-quality care to patients while also being mindful of costs. This approach is centered around the idea of accountability in healthcare practices, where providers are responsible for both the results they achieve for patients and the resources they expend in delivering that care.

In this model, the primary goal is to enhance patient outcomes, ensuring that service members and their families receive effective and timely healthcare services. At the same time, accountable care seeks to manage and reduce unnecessary spending, making the best use of healthcare budgets. By focusing on delivering value through better health results rather than just the volume of services provided, accountable care aims to create a more efficient and effective healthcare system within the military.

The other options do not align with this comprehensive perspective on patient care, as funding limitations or prioritizing administrative tasks would detract from the goal of improving patient outcomes. Similarly, a model that disregards outcomes does not fit within the principles of accountable care, which inherently seeks to enhance both the quality of care and the economic sustainability of healthcare services.