HEALTH CARE AND MANAGED CARE FOR THE CHRONICALLY ILL AND DISABLED: AN ASSESSMENT.
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TextDescription: 151 pSubject(s): Health Sciences, Health Care Management | Health Sciences, Public Health | 0769 | 0573Dissertation note: Masters Thesis (M.P.H.)--NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE, 1998. Summary: Chronic health conditions are the most prevalent form of illness in the U.S. today. Yet, health policy and the health care system continue to focus on the treatment of acute, infectious disease and short-term episodes of illness which were the prevailing health concerns of the early 1900's. With the rapid growth in the chronically ill population has come increasing concern that the existing medical care system is inadequate to meet the complex needs of this special group. Another related concern receiving priority attention in health care policy development is the need to reduce health care expenditures. As a more competitive market emerges, managed care has become the primary vehicle for cost containment, replacing the fee-for-service structure in provider reimbursement. Given the epidemiological shift to chronic illness, and the financing, delivery and organizational shift to managed care, the focus is on the appropriateness and effectiveness of care services for the chronically ill and disabled, and the evaluation of managed health care's ability to address the needs of this population. The results of this in-depth analysis show that significant changes in our current health care system will require concerted efforts by the federal, state and local governments, and the private health insurance industry. Progressive and promising managed care models, programs and initiatives are underway, gaining increasing support and showing positive results. The next step is to encourage more public awareness of the issues involving health care for the chronically ill, and of the benefits of health system integration, more provider education in geriatrics and disabilities, and enhanced national policy.
Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 36-05, page: 1321.
Masters Thesis (M.P.H.)--NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE, 1998.
Chronic health conditions are the most prevalent form of illness in the U.S. today. Yet, health policy and the health care system continue to focus on the treatment of acute, infectious disease and short-term episodes of illness which were the prevailing health concerns of the early 1900's. With the rapid growth in the chronically ill population has come increasing concern that the existing medical care system is inadequate to meet the complex needs of this special group. Another related concern receiving priority attention in health care policy development is the need to reduce health care expenditures. As a more competitive market emerges, managed care has become the primary vehicle for cost containment, replacing the fee-for-service structure in provider reimbursement. Given the epidemiological shift to chronic illness, and the financing, delivery and organizational shift to managed care, the focus is on the appropriateness and effectiveness of care services for the chronically ill and disabled, and the evaluation of managed health care's ability to address the needs of this population. The results of this in-depth analysis show that significant changes in our current health care system will require concerted efforts by the federal, state and local governments, and the private health insurance industry. Progressive and promising managed care models, programs and initiatives are underway, gaining increasing support and showing positive results. The next step is to encourage more public awareness of the issues involving health care for the chronically ill, and of the benefits of health system integration, more provider education in geriatrics and disabilities, and enhanced national policy.
School code: 0151.
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