Which term describes a health care delivery system that integrates financing and delivery of services?

Managed care is the term that characterizes a healthcare delivery system that integrates both the financing and delivery of services. This approach aims to control costs while improving the quality of care. Managed care organizations often use a network of providers and negotiate rates, thereby allowing for structured, efficient access to services.

The model encourages preventive care and efficient resource use, meaning that it seeks to manage the overall health of populations rather than just treating individual illnesses. By integrating financing with the service delivery process, managed care systems can emphasize cost-effective treatment options and streamline patient care. This collaboration between insurers and providers helps enhance the healthcare experience for patients while aiming to keep costs down.

The other choices represent different aspects or models of healthcare delivery but do not fully encapsulate the integration of both financing and delivery. Fee-for-service typically isolates payment from care provision, direct primary care is a more straightforward service model without insurance integration, and accountable care organizations focus on improving care coordination and quality but are part of the broader managed care framework rather than a standalone integrated system.