Solving the Conundrum: How to Balance Care Coordination and Patient Choice in Austria?

Summary: Strengthening primary care is central to the ongoing health care reform in Austria, where patients can still enter the system at any point. Limiting this high degree of freedom is crucial for the reform to be effective. However, as it is much less popular to reduce choice than to extend it, the challenge health policy-makers are currently facing is considerable. Rebalancing care coordination, choice and voice in a multi-faceted approach might be a solution. (author's summary)