Healthcare ethics committees and managed care

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Healthcare Management
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Healthcare ethics committees (HECs) are integral to medical decision-making in US hospitals.
• The extent to which HECs engage with managed care has not been previously studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• This pilot study aimed to evaluate the activities and perceptions of HECs concerning managed care.
• To understand the role of HECs in addressing managed care ethical issues.

Main Methods:

• A random sample of 45 hospitals in the Philadelphia area was surveyed in 1998.
• Surveys were administered to ethics committee representatives, with responses coded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• HECs dedicated 7.6% of their time to managed care issues, with significant variation based on institution size and committee composition.
• 18% of surveyed HECs formally discussed ethical concerns in managed care.
• Institutional concerns regarding insurance program changes were noted.

Conclusions:

• HECs actively arbitrate ethical conflicts within managed care when specifically requested.
• The increasing prevalence of managed care necessitates that HECs develop expertise in its principles and policies to effectively address future ethical dilemmas.