Healthcare And The Evolution Of Managed Care Plans
This study is now available at http://commons.und.edu/theses/4394
Abstract
Many consumers and employers are becoming increasingly concerned about the cost, quality, and appropriateness of health care services. This study examines the different managed care systems that integrate financing and delivery of health services. It describes the three most common managed care systems in use today and discusses the issues that medical providers must deal with in contracting with these systems. The study also explores the limitations of the different systems in curtailing the costs of health services or increasing the quality. The research is conducted in current literature. Details of a specific HMO plan are presented. The level at which this HMO could control the cost and maintain the quality of health services is explained. The information on the three managed care systems is shown which indicates the acceptance of the different systems by the consumers and the medical providers. The paper concludes with a look at the long-term possibilities of the managed care market.