Managed (Health) Care

Managed (health) care is a system of health care now commonplace in the US that attempts to reduce the costs of health care while simultaneously improving the quality of the care. This service model is used by Managed Care Organizations (MCO) and came into being as a result of the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973.

This model of health care is controversial.

On one side of the argument is that it has reduced the cost of medical care by cutting down on unnecessary tests and hospitalizations. The opposing side of the argument claims that it makes it more difficult for patients to access specialists for needed care. Essentially, the jury is still out on whether managed health care is an improvement over other systems.