Business
Study: More say "no" to managed care
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 22, 2006
The number of physicians forgoing managed care contracts is on the rise, according to a recent study conducted by the Center for Studying Health System Change.
After a period of stability during the mid-1990's, the proportion of physicians without any managed care contracts rose from 9.2% in 2000-01 to 11.5% in 2004-05. The report, conducted by telephone interviews with more than 6,600 physicians nationwide, also found the rate of ob-gyns who opt out of managed care contracts more than tripled to 11.8% from about 3.5% since 1996-97.
Ann S. O'Malley, MD, a senior researcher at the center and co-author of the study, said physicians often choose not to contract with insurers because of low reimbursement rates and aversion to the growing administrative obstacles, but that the vast majority of physicians continue to contract with managed care plans.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/05/22/bibf0522.htm.
