Economics of Healthcare

Assignment 2: Dropbox Assignment

Managed Care

In the United States, managed care is becoming an increasingly popular method of administering healthcare. It influences the clinical behavior of providers, as it combines the payment and delivery of healthcare into a single system, the purpose of which is to control the cost, quality, and access of healthcare services for a single bracket of health plan enrollees (Scutchfield, Lee, & Patton, 1997).

Yet, managed care often evokes strong or negative reactions from healthcare providers because they are paid a fixed amount for treating their patients, regardless of the actual cost, which may influence their level of efficiency. This can challenge the relationships between doctors and patients (Claxton, Rae, Panchal, Damico, & Lundy, 2012; Sekhri, 2000).

Research managed care’s inception and study some examples. Be sure to investigate the perspectives about managed care from the vantage of both healthcare providers and patients. You can use the following keywords for your research—United States managed care, history of managed care, and managed care timeline.

Based on your research, answer the following questions in a 8- to 10-page Microsoft Word document:

  • What are the positive and negative aspects of managed care? Analyze the benefits and the risks for both providers and patients, and how providers should choose among managed care contracts. Conclude with your analysis and recommendations for managed care health plans. Your response should include answers to the following questions:
    • Summarize the history of when, how, and why managed care was developed.
    • Define and discuss each type of managed care organization (MCO)—health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO), and point of sale (POS).
    • Explain the positive and negative aspects, respectively, of managed care organization from the provider’s point of view—a physician and a healthcare facility—and from a patient’s point of view.
    • Explain the three types of incentives for providers for efficiency in the delivery of healthcare services. Explain who bears the financial risk—the provider, the patient, or the managed care organization.
    • Offer your recommendations, to accept or decline, for patients considering managed care health plans, with your rationale for each.

References:

Claxton, G., Rae, M., Panchal, N., Damico, A., & Lundy, J. (2012). Employer Health
           Benefits Annual 2012 Survey
. Retrieved from http://ehbs.kff.org/pdf/2012/
           8345.pdf

Sekhri, N. K. (2000). Managed care: The US experience. Retrieved from http://www.
           who.int/bulletin/archives/78%286%29830.pdf

Scutchfield F. D., Lee, J., & Patton, D. (1997). Managed care in the United States.
           Journal of Public Health Medicine, 19(3), 251–254. Retrieved from http://
           jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/19/3/251.full.pdf

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

Submission Details

Name your document SU_HCM3002_W5_A2_LastName_FirstInitial.doc.

Submit your document to the W5 Assignment 2 Dropbox by Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Summarized the history of factors (when, how, and why) that contributed to the development of MCOs.
20
Defined the three main types of MCOs (HMO, PPO, and POS) plans.
20
Explained the positive and negative aspects of MCOs from a provider, physician and healthcare facility, and a patient point of view.
60
Explained the three types of incentives for providers for efficiency in healthcare delivery and who bears the financial risk.
60
Offered recommendations to accept or decline each type of MC plan with rationales.
40
Written components.
50
Total:
250
 

 

Don't hesitate - Save time and Excel

Are you overwhelmed by an intense schedule and facing difficulties completing this assignment? We at GrandHomework know how to assist students in the most effective and cheap way possible. To be sure of this, place an order and enjoy the best grades that you deserve!

Post Homework
Top