The care continuum encompasses a variety of approaches, many of which have been in place under different names over the last 20 years but which now have gained additional traction within new models for delivery of care. Each model attempts to better coordinate care through each phase of illness and thus improve quality of care at a lower cost. These new models have new names—accountable care organizations (see related article in this issue), medical homes, bundled payments, and non-payment for readmission. It is important for healthcare leaders to be familiar with how the care continuum actually serves as a core component of the new models, and to consider how these new models will affect care delivery and cost in the nation’s hospitals.

In this special section, we review some of the delivery system models currently under discussion at the federal and state association level, and demonstrate the care continuum components of these models:

• Disease and care management
• Reducing avoidable readmissions
• Medical homes
• Bundled payments
• Other initiatives