Ethical Issues In Managed Care

Today's health care system is difficult to understand. It has undergone dramatic changes over the years. There are many changes that shift the movement from "an indemnity plan to a managed care system." Not only has the U.S. health care system undergone dramatic changes, but as well continues to evolve to a rapid pace (Conklin, 2002). According to Weiss and Lonnquist (2000), there are a variety of social factors that may impact the health inequalities in the population. They include: U.S. population growth, as well as an increase in the ageing population; increased in technological costs; growth in the number and diversity allied health care profession; increased prescription drugs costs, rising health care coverage; and "higher malpractice premium, case settlements, and jury awards" (Conklin, 2002). A positive physician-patient relationships are important in order to receive effective medical care. According to a physician's survey, "managed care has a negative impact on physician-patient relationships" (Feldman, Novack, & Gracely, 1998). Most respondents indicated spending less time with their patients as a result of increased productivity under managed care. They felt pressure because of the health care reform aiming to reduce costs. However, the patients must see more patients to maintain their income. If the

Most physicians in the surveys believed that managed care prevent them from using their ability to put the patient's interest first and to avoid conflicts of interest with their patients. According to the survey, "forty-nine indicated negative effects when respecting their patients' autonomy. These finding, along with the concerned expressed above, that under managed care cost cutting took top priority over the quality of patient care and as a result trouble conflicted in the interest for physicians and patient care (Feldman, Novack, & Gracely,