ABSTRACT
As the market share of managed care directed referrals grows, practitioners must re-examine traditional service offerings, practice structures, and sales strategies. Since managed care organizations value services that are effective, consumer-friendly, and efficiently delivered, these qualities must be interwoven in demonstratable ways into practice strategies. This challenge creates exciting marketing opportunities for practitioners and managers. This chapter discusses some of the most salient implications for change in clinical practice brought about by MBC entities. It also suggests strategies that will assist the mental health professional in retaining as much control as possible of his or her professional future. Refer to the Appendix section which provides comprehensive information about HMOs operating in respective markets, as well as a directory of managed behavioral care companies. Since most HMOs provide behavioral care services, practitioners may discern which managed behavioral care organization they utilize, or what referral arrangements have been made for mental health and substance abuse patients. Likewise, the mental health care company directory affords the reader a means of assessing opportunites to market services, contract with, and receive referrals from the organizations that manage mental health care services for HMOs, employers, unions, and public entities.
