ABSTRACT

Strosahl (1996) stated that managed behavioral health care is shifting its focus from cost containment and supply-side strategies to three other areas: evidence-based clinical services, a population-based care philosophy, and integration of service delivery systems that previously were independent. Regarding the latter, Lipsitt (1997) has noted, “Those who govern managed care companies and administer large industries have discovered that health plans that fragment delivery of services are more costly and less likely to be given high ‘satisfaction’ ratings by patients than those that provide ‘one-stop shopping’” (pp. 10-11).