title: Impact of managed care on oncology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the general principles of managed care, including purpose, concept of risk, insurance mechanisms, and types of reimbursement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Textbooks and journal articles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At times, managed health care may restrict the options available to the consumer and the provider of care and can lead to ethical and legal issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practitioners caring for cancer patients must continue to monitor and participate in outcomes research to clarify the impact of managed care on cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, 3601 4th St, STOP 6264, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Valadez
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sportsman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000639:trends*