Managed Care: II. Some ‘Latent Functions.’

The author describes the impact of managed care on the mental health system. The author examines several aspects of managed care that, while not necessarily anticipated or planned, have the potential for influencing the lives of long-term mental patients. The discussion is based on a continuing analysis of the rapidly expanding literature on managed care. The author contends that the latent functions she describes show massive shifts in patterns of service delivery that are likely to have profound consequences for patients and providers alike.