What does "managed care" primarily focus on?

Managed care primarily focuses on the coordination of patient services. This approach is designed to streamline healthcare delivery, ensuring that patients receive appropriate care in a timely manner while controlling costs and avoiding unnecessary services. Managed care organizations (MCOs) typically employ a variety of strategies, such as requiring referrals for specialist visits, utilizing preferred provider networks, and implementing care management programs, all aimed at enhancing the continuum of care for patients.

The emphasis on coordination helps to ensure that various healthcare providers are communicating effectively about a patient’s needs, ultimately improving overall health outcomes. By focusing on this coordination, managed care seeks to prevent fragmented care, reduce inefficiencies, and promote better management of chronic conditions.

While expansion of healthcare access is an important goal within healthcare systems, it is not the primary focus of managed care, which is more centered around how care is delivered and managed. Similarly, high-cost service delivery does not align with the principles of managed care, as its objective is often to reduce costs through effective management rather than increase them. Eliminating preventative care options contradicts the fundamentals of managed care, which typically encourages preventive services to enhance patient outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs.