title: Comparing traditional Medicare and managed care Medicare.
abstract: The current healthcare environment presents multiple challenges and opportunities. Patients need in-home health services and managed care companies require prior approvals for these services. There are many demands on the time of home healthcare nurses and supervisors. The following suggestions are offered with the goal of saving time and energy while getting the task accomplished so that patients receive the care they need: Cultivate an ideal relationship with your insurers' case managers. Be flexible. Communicate pertinent information to whomever is responsible for seeking approvals. Provide high-quality patient care that is reflected in the documentation. Inform patients of the prior authorization process as it relates to their home healthcare services (Harris, Lynch, 1996). Fischer and Hurst (1997, p. 16) state that home care providers should adopt a managed care mentality. Linda Pulliam (1989) shared a list of survival skills during a presentation. One of these is "make friends with this changing world" (p. 1). This is excellent advice for all healthcare nurses as we meet the current challenges and anticipate the new ones in the 21st century.
authors.affiliation: Abington Memorial Hospital Home Care, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090-0520, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006278:Medicare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States