In health care, which statement is true regarding managed care and the era described?

In health care, which statement is true regarding managed care and the era described?

• A. HMOs contract out mental health services to private practitioners.
• B. Public health care expanded without cost increases.
• C. There is no managed care movement.
• D. Private practice is discouraged.

Answer: (A)

In the managed care era, Health Maintenance Organizations commonly contract with private practitioners to deliver services, including mental health care, rather than employing all clinicians themselves. This networked approach lets the HMO control costs and utilization by setting rates and managing referrals while still tapping into a broad pool of outside specialists. So the statement about HMOs contracting out mental health services to private practitioners captures how care was organized in that period. The other ideas don’t fit the trend: public health care expansions without cost increases were not a hallmark of this era, managed care was a major movement, and private practice was not broadly discouraged but integrated into networks.

In the managed care era, Health Maintenance Organizations commonly contract with private practitioners to deliver services, including mental health care, rather than employing all clinicians themselves. This networked approach lets the HMO control costs and utilization by setting rates and managing referrals while still tapping into a broad pool of outside specialists. So the statement about HMOs contracting out mental health services to private practitioners captures how care was organized in that period. The other ideas don’t fit the trend: public health care expansions without cost increases were not a hallmark of this era, managed care was a major movement, and private practice was not broadly discouraged but integrated into networks.