How is "managed care" defined?

Managed care is defined as a healthcare delivery system that aims to manage cost, utilization, and quality. This definition captures the essence of managed care, which seeks to provide efficient healthcare services while controlling expenses. Managed care organizations implement various strategies, such as network providers, care coordination, and preventive care measures, to ensure that healthcare is delivered in a way that enhances quality for patients without incurring unnecessary costs. The focus on managing much of the healthcare process allows for a more streamlined approach to patient care, balancing quality with financial sustainability.

While patient satisfaction is important, it is not the core defining feature of managed care; rather, effective management of costs, utilization (the frequency and appropriateness of healthcare services), and quality are central to its purpose. Guaranteed access to care and promotion of alternative medicine might be components of certain healthcare systems, but they do not specifically define what managed care entails. The primary goal of managed care encompasses these broader themes of financial and quality management within a structured healthcare framework.