Economic credentialing moves from the hospital to managed care

This article deals with the application of economic measures to the appointment, reappointment, and delineation of medical staff privileges, the so-called practice of economic credentialing. The concept of economic credentialing is first explored in the hospital context with a focus on legal and political issues. The second part of the article examines how economic credentialing will evolve in new managed care practice settings. Emphasis is placed on how the law and legislation will be utilized by organized medicine to protect physician interests in the process of selective contracting. Specific discussion focuses on the American Medical Association's Patient Protection Act and the implications of "any willing provider" provisions.