1-2 Increased costs - what are several factors that have led to increased health care costs? 1-3 Cost Control - what are several of the efforts that have been attempted by payors to control costs? 1-4 Malpractice reform - What specific impacts will the provisions of the ACA have on malpractice reform? 1-5 Information technology - What is the trend of information technology usage in health care, and what effects are likely from that trend? 1-6 Mergers and acquisitions - What advantages do health care organizations seek to obtain by merging with each other or by acquiring or being acquired by another health care organization? 1-7 Process techniques - What are two or more techniques that health care organizations can implement to increase operational efficiency? 1-8 Overall costs - Which two factors may have the strongest tendency to increase health care costs? Which two may particularly decrease those costs? Why? 1-9 The "gap" - Describe the "gap" that health care organizations are facing. What unique problems does it present? What benefits