School and adolescent health and managed care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Managed Care

Background:

• The expansion of managed care in the U.S. impacts adolescent health services.
• Effective adolescent health requires collaboration between managed care organizations, schools, and public health agencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss challenges faced by schools and adolescent health providers.
• To examine the relationship between managed care and public health.
• To explore the implications of managed care for adolescent health promotion.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and discussion of managed care's role in public health.
• Case study analysis of a collaboration between a managed care organization and school-based health centers.

Main Results:

• Managed care expansion creates both opportunities and challenges for adolescent health.
• Collaboration is crucial for addressing youth health needs and improving access to prevention services.
• A specific collaborative model between HealthPartners and Health Start in St. Paul Public Schools is presented.

Conclusions:

• Partnerships between managed care, schools, and public health are essential for optimizing adolescent health outcomes.
• School-based health centers can be effectively managed through collaborative efforts.
• Addressing the complexities of managed care is key to advancing adolescent health promotion.