Continuity of care, informed consent, and fiduciary responsibilities in for-profit managed care systems.
The replacement of fee-for-service systems by managed care systems offers opportunities for cutting medical costs, integrating health care delivery systems, and improving communication among physicians. Before these benefits can be realized, however, a number of problems must be addressed. First, managed care systems must find ways to foster continuity of care in a market that has thus far proved unstable. Second, managed care systems must find ways to protect the patient's right to fully informed consent even while educating patients about the importance of cost-effectiveness and why certain treatments might not be included in their health plan. Third, managed care systems must find ways to promote physicians' fiduciary responsibilities to patients and to respect physicians' clinical judgments even while creating legitimate incentives to provide cost-effective health care.
Holleman
W L
WL
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex., USA.
Holleman
M C
MC
Moy
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006269:Health Facilities, Proprietary; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States