Convergence and dissonance: evolution in private-sector approaches to disease management and care coordination.
Disease management (DM) approaches survived the 1990s backlash against managed care because of their potential for consumer-friendly cost containment, but purchasers have been cautious about investing heavily in them because of uncertainty about return on investment. This study examines how private-sector approaches to DM have evolved over the past two years in the midst of the movement toward consumer-driven health care. Findings indicate that these programs have become standard features of health plan design, despite a thin evidence base concerning their effectiveness. Uncertainties remain regarding how well these programs will function within benefit designs that require higher consumer cost sharing.
Mays
Glen P
GP
Department of Health Policy and Management, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in Little Rock, USA. gpmays@uams.edu
Au
Melanie
M
Claxton
Gary
G
D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000191:economics; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D017047:Cost Sharing; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007449:Investments; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D017149:Private Sector; D035501:Uncertainty; D014481:United States