title: Manage authorizations to manage care.
abstract: Managed care organizations rely on different ways to authorize the utilization of hospital services, physician specialty care and other referral services. Critical differences revolve around the role the primary care physician plays in the authorization process. The more tightly managed the system, the more likely unnecessary medical costs will be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Birch and Davis Health Management Corporation, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000458:organization & administration*