title: Characteristics of health plans that treat psychiatric patients.
abstract: Nationally representative data regarding the organizational, financial, and procedural features of health plans in which psychiatric patients receive treatment indicate that fewer privately insured, Medicaid, and Medicare managed care enrollees receive care from a psychiatrist than is true for "nonmanaged" enrollees. Financial considerations were reported to adversely affect treatment for one-third of all patients. Although utilization management techniques and financial/resource constraints commonly applied to patients in both managed and nonmanaged plans, performance-based incentives were rare in nonmanaged plans. The traditional health plan categories provide limited information to identify salient plan characteristics and guide policy decisions regarding the provision of care.
authors.affiliation: American Psychiatric Association (APA), Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zarin
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pincus
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tanielian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003363:Cost Control; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States