Managed care organizations (MCOs) are constantly faced with the challenge of providing patients quality healthcare and maintaining cost-effective healthcare reimbursement programs. As healthcare costs continue to rise, it is harder for MCOs to keep costs down for the patients and the organizations. Therefore, many are employing a variety of controversial methods to help control costs.
What are some methods MCOs have used to contain costs over the last few years? How have these methods affected patient care? What suggestions would give to help overcome the negative effects that have resulted from these cost containment efforts?