Which of the following best describes "managed care"?

Managed care refers to a system of healthcare delivery that seeks to manage both the cost of healthcare and the quality of services provided to patients. This approach actively involves the implementation of policies that guide the allocation of resources, the use of preventive care, and the monitoring of care quality. By integrating cost management with care quality assurance, managed care plans aim to reduce unnecessary expenditures while ensuring that patients receive appropriate and effective services.

The active role in influencing cost and quality signifies that managed care organizations (MCOs) engage in various strategies such as negotiating prices with providers, utilizing evidence-based protocols, and coordinating care among different service providers. This proactive involvement is intended to create a more sustainable healthcare system that benefits patients, providers, and payers alike by improving health outcomes and containing costs.

In contrast, a passive or inactive role in healthcare costs or quality assurance would not align with the core principles of managed care. Furthermore, a sole focus on fee-for-service payment models lacks the comprehensive approach that managed care embodies, as it does not consider the overall management of patient care or the cost implications of various treatment pathways. Thus, the emphasis on active management significantly differentiates managed care from other healthcare delivery systems.