Medicaid managed care and STDs: missed opportunities to control the epidemic

We examined the extent to which selected Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) promoted certain prevention and control services for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the potential influence of health plans and medical groups on the delivery of STD care by primary care providers (PCPs) in seven large U.S. cities. Low-cost clinical services were routinely performed by PCPs, but higher-cost services were less often provided. Lack of organizational priority to promote STD prevention and control is a major barrier even for those MCOs that serve this high-risk, low-income population. Stronger incentives and legally binding provisions in Medicaid contracts are needed to promote adherence to standards of STD care.