Consumer direction in managed long-term care: an exploratory survey of practices and perceptions

This article presents results of a survey of the attitudes and practices of managed care organizations (MCOs) concerning consumer direction. The study focused on understanding several alternative measures of consumer direction and the factors that are associated with the MCOs concerning those measures.

The MCOs that were surveyed provided capitated managed long-term care benefits to their Medicaid-eligible clients and were chosen because personal assistance service is a likely area for consumer-direction interest or practice.

Although the majority of the responding MCOs were found to be practicing some form of consumer direction, the experience is limited and underdeveloped. Two areas of concern seem to be most important in an organization's decision to adopt a consumer choice or consumer-direction model: the balance of concerns about unprofitability and the perceived interest and benefit of the clients.

This study suggests managed care and consumer direction can work together and provides a baseline to assess further development of their compatibility.