Consumer Direction in Managed Long-Term Care: An Exploratory Survey of Practices and Perceptions

Purpose: This article presents results of a survey of the attitudes and practices of managed care organizations (MCOs) concerning consumer direction. The study focused on understanding several alternative measures of consumer direction and the factors that are associated with the MCOs concerning tho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Gerontologist 2002-02, Vol.42 (1), p.32-38
Main Authors: Meiners, Mark R, Mahoney, Kevin J, Shoop, Dawn M, Squillace, Marie R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Client Relations
Client Satisfaction
Community Participation
Consumer Behavior
Consumer Economics
Consumerism
Data Collection - methods
Federal Programs
Gerontology
Health Insurance
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Services
Humans
Long Term Care
Long term health care
Long-Term Care - organization & administration
Managed care
Managed Care Programs - organization & administration
Managed Care Services
Medicaid - economics
Older people
Selection
Surveys
United States
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Summary:Purpose: This article presents results of a survey of the attitudes and practices of managed care organizations (MCOs) concerning consumer direction. The study focused on understanding several alternative measures of consumer direction and the factors that are associated with the MCOs concerning those measures. Design and Methods: The MCOs that were surveyed provided capitated managed long-term care benefits to their Medicaid-eligible clients and were chosen because personal assistance service is a likely area for consumer-direction interest or practice. Results: Although the majority of the responding MCOs were found to be practicing some form of consumer direction, the experience is limited and underdeveloped. Two areas of concern seem to be most important in an organization's decision to adopt a consumer choice or consumer-direction model: the balance of concerns about unprofitability and the perceived interest and benefit of the clients. Implications: This study suggests managed care and consumer direction can work together and provides a baseline to assess further development of their compatibility.
ISSN:0016-9013
1758-5341
DOI:10.1093/geront/42.1.32