Managed Care—A Personal View

Abstract

In the last few months our College has begun a serious debate about funding methods for psychiatric services. One of the funding models being considered is that of ‘managed care’. I practised in the United States from 1987 to late 1992 at a time when US style managed care reached its apogee as a form of financing for medical care, including psychiatric services. With this experience I am in a position to make some observations about the nature of managed care and the likely implications if it is introduced into Australian psychiatric practice.