Which statement about managed care is true in the health care context described?

Which statement about managed care is true in the health care context described?

• A. It reduces private practitioner involvement.
• B. It increases control by large hospital and insurer organizations and contracts out services such as mental health.
• C. It eliminates mental health services.
• D. It has no impact on social work practice.

Answer: (B)

Managed care concentrates decision-making power in large hospital and insurer organizations, which build provider networks, set payment terms, and oversee what services are offered and to whom. The statement that best fits this setup is that these entities increase control by expanding their reach and contracting out services such as mental health. In practice, mental health care is still provided, but through negotiated networks and often via outsourced or bundled arrangements aimed at controlling costs and standardizing care. For social workers, this means working within network guidelines, understanding authorization and referral processes, coordinating with care managers, and advocating for appropriate access within the established constraints. The other scenarios don’t align with how managed care operates: private practitioners can still be involved within networks, mental health services aren’t eliminated, and managed care does influence social work practice.

Managed care concentrates decision-making power in large hospital and insurer organizations, which build provider networks, set payment terms, and oversee what services are offered and to whom. The statement that best fits this setup is that these entities increase control by expanding their reach and contracting out services such as mental health. In practice, mental health care is still provided, but through negotiated networks and often via outsourced or bundled arrangements aimed at controlling costs and standardizing care. For social workers, this means working within network guidelines, understanding authorization and referral processes, coordinating with care managers, and advocating for appropriate access within the established constraints. The other scenarios don’t align with how managed care operates: private practitioners can still be involved within networks, mental health services aren’t eliminated, and managed care does influence social work practice.