Overview of publicly funded managed behavioral health care.
Using MEDLINE and other Internet sources, the authors perform a systematic review of published literature. A total of 109 articles and reports are identified and reviewed that address the development, implementation, outcomes, and trends related to Managed behavioral health care (MBHC). MBHC remains a work in progress. States have implemented their MBHC programs in a number of ways, making interstate comparisons challenging. While managed behavioral health care can lower costs and increase access, ongoing concerns about MBHC include potential incentives to under-treat those with more severe conditions due to the nature of risk-based contracting, the tendency to focus on acute care, difficulties assuring quality and outcomes consistently across regions, and a potential cost-shift to other public agencies or systems. Success factors for MBHC programs appear to include stakeholder involvement in program and policy development, effective contract development and management, and rate adequacy.
Coleman
Mardi
M
UMass Center for Health Policy and Research, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA. mardia.coleman@umassmed.edu
Schnapp
William
W
Hurwitz
Debra
D
Hedberg
Sabine
S
Cabral
Linda
L
Laszlo
Aniko
A
Himmelstein
Jay
J
D017046:Cost Savings; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005380:Financing, Government; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States