title: Provider turnover in public sector managed mental health care.
abstract: The present study examines the extent of turnover in mental health provider networks within public sector managed mental health care over a 1-year period and its association to provider and practice characteristics. Telephone interviews were conducted with a sample of mental health services providers listed the previous year in the networks of the 3 public sector managed mental health care organizations operating in Puerto Rico. Thirty-one percent of respondents had dropped out of networks. The drop-out rate was significantly associated (P < or = .05) with increasing number of years in practice and decreasing years under contract. A nonsignificant trend was observed, suggesting that providers with subspecialty training are less likely to drop out. The results may be signaling an emerging problem in public sector managed mental health care. Stability of provider networks should be monitored by state agencies contracting out mental health care.
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00936. calbizu@rcm.upr.edu
authors.forename: Carmen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Albizu-García
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Juarbe
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alegría
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D017150:Public Sector; D011647:Puerto Rico; D000078329:Workforce