OBJECTIVES OF MANAGED CARE

Quality Improvement:

Health care is monitored for quality and necessity. Consequently, services rendered are more effective and efficient. Physicians are encouraged to render appropriate and timely care.
Prevention: Managed care plans encourage preventive care by covering procedures such as annual physical check-ups, cancer screening, prenatal examinations so that doctors can help either prevent illnesses or detect diseases in their early stages. Diseases can be easier and cheaper to treat when detected early.

Accountability:

Managed care plans make the physicians and hospitals more accountable for the services they render. Physicians are prevented from wasting money on costly, inappropriate or unexplained services. They are encouraged to adhere to certain treatment standards and conserve health care resources.
Affordability: By reducing the burden of out-of-pocket expenses on the member, managed care plans aim to make high quality care affordable. They offer insurance at reduced costs, despite the ever-growing cost of health care.

Care Coordination:

Due to the wide range of medical services available, and the growth of medical technology, a patient may need help in deciding what sort of care he/she needs. The patient must be advised of the best methods of treatment or the best facilities available to attend to his/her health needs. Managed care plans provide the concerned medical professionals to ensure that each patient receives the best health care available under the plan.