title: Kinder and gentler: physicians and managed care, 1997-2001.
abstract: Despite the managed care backlash, an overwhelming majority of U.S. physicians continue to contract with managed care health plans. In fact, according to a new Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) study, between 1997 and 2001 physicians reported a modest increase in the proportion of practice revenue from managed care contracts and the average number of contracts. At the same time, the nature of physicians' relationships with health plans changed, with a significant decrease in plans' use of capitation, or fixed monthly payments for each patient regardless of the amount of care provided. Meanwhile, physician practices moved away from using direct financial incentives to influence doctors' clinical decision making, but did experience an increase in the overall influence of treatment guidelines and other practices commonly associated with managed care.
authors.forename: Bradley C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Strunk
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reschovsky
mesh_terms: D002204:Capitation Fee / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D032982:Contracts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003363:Cost Control; D003657:Decision Making; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008511:Medicine; D010346:Patient Care Management; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D013038:Specialization; D014481:United States