Hamilton county physicians' experience with managed care

Widespread physician participation in managed care over the last several years prompted this survey of the members of the Medical Society of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.

A 36-item questionnaire was mailed to all members of the Medical Society.

Ninety-six responses from solo practitioners and groups representing 325 physicians were analyzed. More than 80% of respondents believed that managed care has affected the quality of patient care negatively and 71.8% believed managed care policies have compromised their patient care. More importantly, 90% said insurers have not secured their input in policy development. Referral processes were regarded as cumbersome or impossible by 78.2%. Regression analysis showed a significant relation between issues of too much managed care control, cumbersome referral processes, and physicians' opinion on impact of managed care on quality of patient care.

Physician dissatisfaction with managed care in Hamilton County appears widespread and is mainly related to issues of too much managed care control over daily patient care, which physicians feel results in compromised quality of patient care.