Impact of managed care on obstetrician-gynecologists' practice: the providers' perspective

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 1998 Socioeconomic Survey of Fellows included questions, developed in collaboration with the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, to assess the impact of managed care on respondents' practices and patients. Participation in managed care is extensive among obstetricians and gynecologists (ob/gyns), especially in commercial managed care plans. The greatest areas of dissatisfaction for physicians were administrative workload, external review of clinical decisions, and promptness of payment. More research is needed to determine the impact of administrative burdens, restrictions on access to ob/gyns, and denial of coverage on women's receipt of timely and appropriate services.